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Symbolic crossing of Cyprus zone | |
(4 days later) | |
Mehmet Ali Talat has become the first Turkish Cypriot leader for decades to walk down Nicosia's Ledra Street into Greek Cypriot territory. | Mehmet Ali Talat has become the first Turkish Cypriot leader for decades to walk down Nicosia's Ledra Street into Greek Cypriot territory. |
Mr Talat, flanked by security staff, chatted to shopkeepers and bought ice cream, coffee and CDs. | Mr Talat, flanked by security staff, chatted to shopkeepers and bought ice cream, coffee and CDs. |
Ledra Street was opened a week ago for the first time since 1964. | Ledra Street was opened a week ago for the first time since 1964. |
Relations between the island's divided communities have thawed since the election of a new Greek Cypriot president in February. | Relations between the island's divided communities have thawed since the election of a new Greek Cypriot president in February. |
'Message of friendship' | 'Message of friendship' |
President Demetris Christofias stood on a platform of resuming negotiations with the North and reuniting the island. | |
The opening of the Ledra Street crossing has been seen as a major confidence-building measure before peace talks resume in June. | The opening of the Ledra Street crossing has been seen as a major confidence-building measure before peace talks resume in June. |
Map of Nicosia | Map of Nicosia |
"My visit to Ledra sends a message of friendship and Turkish Cypriot efforts to solve the Cyprus problem," Mr Talat told reporters. | "My visit to Ledra sends a message of friendship and Turkish Cypriot efforts to solve the Cyprus problem," Mr Talat told reporters. |
"I have come to see what is going on here to experience the new climate," he added. | "I have come to see what is going on here to experience the new climate," he added. |
The Turkish Cypriot leader said he had walked down the street on the spur of the moment. | The Turkish Cypriot leader said he had walked down the street on the spur of the moment. |
Ledra Street is the sixth crossing point to open on the island in recent years, but it was seen as one of the most symbolic of the enduring divisions. | Ledra Street is the sixth crossing point to open on the island in recent years, but it was seen as one of the most symbolic of the enduring divisions. |
The street was closed after violence flared between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in 1964. | The street was closed after violence flared between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities in 1964. |
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the North in response to a coup backed by Greece. | Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded the North in response to a coup backed by Greece. |
A United Nations-patrolled buffer zone marks the division of the island. | |
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