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| Symbolic Cyprus crossing reopens | Symbolic Cyprus crossing reopens |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Greek and Turkish Cypriots have reopened a major crossing in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia. | Greek and Turkish Cypriots have reopened a major crossing in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia. |
| Ledra Street, which had come to symbolise the partition of the island, was declared open by local officials. | Ledra Street, which had come to symbolise the partition of the island, was declared open by local officials. |
| It was split in 1964, during an outbreak of violence between the ethnic Greek and Turkish communities. | It was split in 1964, during an outbreak of violence between the ethnic Greek and Turkish communities. |
| New Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to reopen the busy shopping street last month. | New Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed to reopen the busy shopping street last month. |
| Map of Nicosia | Map of Nicosia |
| The two leaders have also agreed to resume talks on reunifying the island. | The two leaders have also agreed to resume talks on reunifying the island. |
| This is the first step. We hope many more will follow Nicosia Mayor Eleni Mavrou href="/1/hi/world/europe/6434919.stm">Symbolic wall comes down | |
| "We are living a historic day today," said an aide to Mr Talat, Osdil Nami, at the Ledra Street reopening on Thursday. "We are witnessing one of the obstacles to a solution come down." | "We are living a historic day today," said an aide to Mr Talat, Osdil Nami, at the Ledra Street reopening on Thursday. "We are witnessing one of the obstacles to a solution come down." |
| EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed the reopening, saying it showed that the two sides were "ready to put aside the difficulties of the past". | EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed the reopening, saying it showed that the two sides were "ready to put aside the difficulties of the past". |
| Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey deployed troops after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece. | Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey deployed troops after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece. |
| Ledra Street had been at the centre of the island's leading shopping district before it was blocked in the middle, with military posts either side of the dividing line. | Ledra Street had been at the centre of the island's leading shopping district before it was blocked in the middle, with military posts either side of the dividing line. |
| Cyprus' government demolished a wall and military checkpoint on Ledra Street last year. | Cyprus' government demolished a wall and military checkpoint on Ledra Street last year. |
| But plans to reopen the street were rejected by President Christofias' predecessor, Tassos Papadopoulos. | But plans to reopen the street were rejected by President Christofias' predecessor, Tassos Papadopoulos. |
| "We still have a long way to go," said the mayor of Nicosia, Eleni Mavrou. "This is the first step. We hope many more will follow." | "We still have a long way to go," said the mayor of Nicosia, Eleni Mavrou. "This is the first step. We hope many more will follow." |
| Click to return | Click to return |