GREEK AND Turkish Cypriot sides have begun separate dialogues with the UN to determine the next steps to be taken to open the Ledra Street crossing.
Heated rhetoric over the Turkish Cypriots’ decision to remove their controversial bridge had diminished to a trickle yesterday, all of which was coming from the north.
UNFICYP spokesman Brian Kelly confirmed the UN had spoken to the two sides and was working with them to reach an agreement.
“We are consulting with both sides on the issues that have to be addressed in order to open the crossing,” he said.
He added that UNFICYP had already informed both sides of the safety issues and the work needed on derelict buildings inside the Green Line that could pose a danger to pedestrians.
Discussions have not yet reached the thorny issues of disengagement of military forces and the removal of provocative signs and symbols, as demanded by the Greek Cypriot side.
These issues are likely to prove a stumbling block to an early opening of the crossing, since the Turkish Cypriot side is objecting to the government telling them what they can and cannot do on ‘their side’ of the crossing point.
Hasan Ercakica, spokesman for Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, said the Greek Cypriot side had not yet conveyed any formal proposals to them.
“Right after the declaration regarding the removal of Lokmaci [Ledra] crossing, statements by the Greek Cypriot side, saying they conveyed their discussion requests to the Turkish side through the UN peacekeeping force, do not reflect the facts,” he said.
“With the removal of the footbridge, Turkish Cypriots once again proved that they are ready to contribute every kind of initiative to improve relations between the two communities. Now, our expectation from the Greek Cypriots are the demolition of the wall of disgrace on the Greek Cypriot side of Lokmaci barricade and the start of passage between the two sides like other check-points.”
However, for the Greek Cypriot side, the dismantling of the footbridge was merely the removal of something illegally built there a year ago and does not constitute part of the deal to open the crossing.
But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted yesterday as saying that by removing the bridge, the Turkish Cypriot side had “cornered” the Greek Cypriots.
“With the step he made, Mr Talat cornered the Greek Cypriot administration and this gave us one more trump card in the negotiations,” he said.
Today a group of people calling themselves ‘Citizens for the Opening of Ledra Street’ will stage a demonstration at the Greek Cypriot barrier, demanding the wall be knocked down and the road opened.
The group met with Talat on Thursday.
