‘Ledra street won’t open with Turks in the area’

THE LEDRA Street crossing will not open as long as there are Turkish troops in the area, President Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday.

“If the Turkish side leaves the issue of the status of the middle line to be resolved by the UN, as we have proposed, instead of insisting on recognition of a status of dominion over the area, and if they accept the withdrawal of the troops from the area, the crossing point may open very soon,” he said.

Earlier this month the government proposed accepting the UN map of the ceasefire line in the area because both sides have differing views on its delineation. The Turkish Cypriot side called the move a political trick.

But Papadopoulos said yesterday he did not believe there were many people who would accept the opening of the crossing if the Turkish side insisted on controlling the buffer zone in that area, where their troops would be patrolling while pedestrians came and went.

“A crossing point aiming at cultivating a good attitude for relations between the two communities will become a source of bitterness and friction when the citizens pass to and from the street and see Turkish troops reminding them of the occupation,” said Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos said at the moment the issue was still in the hands of the UN, which, he said, was engaged in contacts for some weeks with Turkish forces. “I hope that in the end the Turkish side will accept that which we have accepted,” he said.