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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Greek Cypriots dismantle barrier | Greek Cypriots dismantle barrier |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Greek Cypriots have demolished a key section of the barrier dividing the island's capital city, Nicosia. | Greek Cypriots have demolished a key section of the barrier dividing the island's capital city, Nicosia. |
| The Green Line has separated Cyprus's Greeks from the Turkish population since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the north. | The Green Line has separated Cyprus's Greeks from the Turkish population since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the north. |
| The work in Ledra Street began under cover of darkness and had not been publicised in advance. | The work in Ledra Street began under cover of darkness and had not been publicised in advance. |
| But the Greek Cypriot authorities say Turkish troops must pull back before people can cross in either direction. | But the Greek Cypriot authorities say Turkish troops must pull back before people can cross in either direction. |
| Ledra Street - a pedestrianised shopping area - would be the sixth crossing point on the divided island. | Ledra Street - a pedestrianised shopping area - would be the sixth crossing point on the divided island. |
| Barbed wire | Barbed wire |
| The move was welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, as "a positive development". | The move was welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister, Ferdi Sabit Soyer, as "a positive development". |
| Click here for Nicosia map | Click here for Nicosia map |
| The UN chief of mission, Michael Moller, also hailed it as "a positive contribution of great significance", the AFP news agency reported. | The UN chief of mission, Michael Moller, also hailed it as "a positive contribution of great significance", the AFP news agency reported. |
| It's a good move, but one that needs to be part of a much wider process Peter MillettBritish High Commissioner Symbolic breach in Nicosia | It's a good move, but one that needs to be part of a much wider process Peter MillettBritish High Commissioner Symbolic breach in Nicosia |
| The street was cordoned off to allow heavy equipment and demolition crews to move into position. | The street was cordoned off to allow heavy equipment and demolition crews to move into position. |
| A small crowd watched the action, applauding when work on tearing down the barrier began. | A small crowd watched the action, applauding when work on tearing down the barrier began. |
| "This is a show of goodwill on our side to contribute positively to opening Ledra Street," government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardes told state television. | "This is a show of goodwill on our side to contribute positively to opening Ledra Street," government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardes told state television. |
| It used to be a bustling road in the heart of Nicosia's commercial district but for more than 40 years it has been blocked by a large wall and a viewing platform overlooking the demilitarised strip separating north from south. | It used to be a bustling road in the heart of Nicosia's commercial district but for more than 40 years it has been blocked by a large wall and a viewing platform overlooking the demilitarised strip separating north from south. |
| In December a controversial bridge over the wall was removed | In December a controversial bridge over the wall was removed |
| The structures have been replaced by plastic barricades. | The structures have been replaced by plastic barricades. |
| The Turkish Cypriot breakaway state in the north is recognised only by Turkey. | |
| In December the Turkish Cypriot authorities dismantled a controversial footbridge on Ledra Street, which was built in 2005. It had angered Greek Cypriots, who said it encroached into the UN buffer zone separating the two sides. | In December the Turkish Cypriot authorities dismantled a controversial footbridge on Ledra Street, which was built in 2005. It had angered Greek Cypriots, who said it encroached into the UN buffer zone separating the two sides. |
| The Green Zone is policed by United Nations troops, amid barbed wire and dilapidated buildings with sand bags still sitting in the windows. | The Green Zone is policed by United Nations troops, amid barbed wire and dilapidated buildings with sand bags still sitting in the windows. |
| Cyprus was partitioned after a Turkish invasion in 1974, which came shortly after a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta ruling Greece at the time. | Cyprus was partitioned after a Turkish invasion in 1974, which came shortly after a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta ruling Greece at the time. |
| Shortly before joining the European Union in 2004 the Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations plan to reunify the island. | Shortly before joining the European Union in 2004 the Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations plan to reunify the island. |
| The BBC's Chloe Hadjimatheou says it will be a while before Ledra Street opens fully. | The BBC's Chloe Hadjimatheou says it will be a while before Ledra Street opens fully. |
| First the disused ordnance and derelict buildings will have to be made safe and then UN forces will have to establish a checkpoint to police the crossing. | First the disused ordnance and derelict buildings will have to be made safe and then UN forces will have to establish a checkpoint to police the crossing. |
| Click to return | Click to return |