UN: Ledra Street agreements will be adhered to

THE United Nations are responsible for the buffer zone and they are determined to ensure all agreements surrounding the opening of Ledra Street are maintained.

This was confirmed in two meetings held by President Demetris Christofias yesterday, after his rushed return to Cyprus from the UK because of the incidents at Ledra on Thursday night.

The checkpoint was closed down for 90 minutes after Turkish Cypriot “policemen” were seen patrolling the UN-controlled buffer zone area. Part of the agreement to open Ledra was that the specific area could only be patrolled by UN soldiers.

Christofias first met with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, followed by a meeting with the UN Secretary-general’s special representative in Cyprus, Elisabeth Spehar.

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou last night stressed the need for a strict implementation of agreements regarding the opening of Ledra Street so no further problems arise.

“It was also confirmed that the buffer zone is under the responsibility of the UN and that they are determined to take on that responsibility,” he told reporters outside the Presidential Palace.

Stephanou added that Christofias had repeated the government’s will for the Ledra Street checkpoint to remain open, “the opening of which has justifiably caused joy to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots”.

Asked whether the five ambassadors had been assured by the Turkish Cypriot side that there would be no further violations of the Ledra Street agreements, he said there were assurances that certain conditions would be set to ensure that the agreements were respected.

According to Stephanou, President Christofias had not yet met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

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