A road for peace and freedom

RESIDENTS from several Nicosia suburbs and villages banded together yesterday to rally for the opening of pre-1974 roads in the buffer zone that would bring certain villages dramatically closer to Nicosia and alleviate isolation.

Protesters from Aglandja, Geri, Pyroi, Athienou and Avdellerou staged simultaneous demonstrations, demanding that checkpoints at Pyroi and at Larnaca Avenue in Aglandja be opened to enable free movement.

The residents also called on Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to show goodwill for the continuation of talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The first demonstration by residents of Avdellerou, Athienou and Pyroi took place at the Athienou industrial area roundabout.

“For Athienou, the opening of Pyroi checkpoint means that the distance from Athienou to Nicosia which at present is 50 minutes, will be reduced to ten minutes,” said Athienou mayor Spyros Papouis.

“The opening of the checkpoint will significantly help the residents of the surrounding area because they will be able to reach Nicosia in a significantly less time,” added Antonis Mousikos, Avdellerou village leader.

Meanwhile on Larnaca Avenue, locals from Aglandja, Geri and Pyroi called for the opening of the road that has been closed for 35 years.

“We demand that the checkpoints of Larnaca Avenue from Larnaca to Nicosia be opened to enable the free movement of residents,” said Aglandja Mayor Andreas Petrou.

“The road’s opening will give the message that what we ask for is what unites us,” added Yeri village leader Argyris Argyrou.

Representatives of AKEL, DIKO and EDEK supported the demonstrations, arguing that it would be easily feasible to open the road. The Greens requested that the road’s opening be performed in conjunction with the area’s demilitarisation.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.