A MEETING was held between political parties and the government yesterday on the opening of the Ledra Street crossing under the auspices of House President Demetris Christofias.
The parties exchanged views on the next steps as regards opening the street to pedestrian traffic, which is currently under indirect discussion with the Turkish Cypriot side through the UN.
From the government side Tasos Tzonis, a senior aide to President Tassos Papadopoulos and other officials attended to brief the parties on the situation on the ground.
Party leaders said they agreed with the government’s stance calling for the disengagement of military forces in the area, the removal of flags and symbols and securing the safety of old buildings in the Green Line that could injure passers by.
Only opposition DISY expressed a slightly different view.
Leader Nicos Anastassiades said that although he did not disagree over the steps that needed to be done to open the crossing, he questioned why the whole procedure had to go through the UN.
“Instead of waiting for a third person to undertake initiatives, it is our position that we undertake initiatives ourselves as soon as possible,” he said.
Referring to today’s meeting between Christofias and Turkish Cypriot ‘Prime Minister’ Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Anastassiades said the political parties should use the opportunity to press for a meeting between Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
“In this way everything would be on the table so that the political decisions could be taken, which would be a help to the UN as well.”
He added that such a meeting would also expose the real intentions of the Turkish Cypriot side. “It we are waiting for a UN process it will likely lead to too much formality and negativity from the two sides and no one will take an initiative.”
The Turkish Cypriot side believes that since they removed a footbridge that would have allowed Turkish troops to continue patrolling in the area, that the Greek Cypriot side should remove its barrier on Ledra Street.
However the government argues that since the bridge was not built until a year ago, its presence and its removal have no bearing at all on the original plan to open Ledra Street.
??
??
??
??
