THE TURKISH Cypriot side yesterday denied media reports in the north that an agreement had been reached for demilitarisation in the area of Ledra Street and that the crossing point would be ready to open in July.
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika said that an understanding was reached during discussions carried out under UN auspices between the Turkish armed forces and the military authorities of the Republic of Cyprus for the opening of the crossing.
The paper said that General Ilker Basbug, the commander of Turkey’s Land Forces, had last week secretly visited the island to conduct a site examination of the work being done in the area.
However a top Turkish Cypriot political source denied yesterday that a military withdrawal was taking place in the buffer zone at the proposed Ledra street crossing, telling the Cyprus Mail: “A withdrawal is not on the agenda”.
He added, however, that Turkish Cypriot military officials had met with UN officials to discuss the “practicalities” of opening the crossing, and that he believed discussions would be fruitful.
The proposed crossing point was quiet yesterday, with one of two uniformed Turkish Cypriot police on guard on the northern side, telling the Mail that military was still in place in Ermou Street.
“Our soldiers haven’t moved,” he said.
Other eyewitnesses said they had but the official side is being tight-lipped.
Earlier this month, the Greek Cypriot side dismantled the wall at the end of Ledra Street in a surprise move late at night. The removal of the wall however was not designed to automatically open Ledra but as a means of furthering discussion with the Turkish Cypriot side on the issue.
The Greek Cypriot side has set a number of conditions for the opening, which include securing the old buildings and the pulling back of military personnel.
On Sunday Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat criticised House President Demetris Christofias for saying the preconditions had not yet been met by the Turkish side.
“At least Mr Christofias accepts the fact that the Greek Cypriot side has put forward preconditions,” Talat said.
“We do not want preconditions, we want for any gate to be opened without any provisions,” he said.
Talat also said the opening of Ledra Street was a priority over the opening of other crossing points.
(Additional reporting by Simon Bahceli)
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