Ledra street closes

Ledra Street was closed briefly on Thursday night due to “violations by the Turkish occupation army of the agreement”, according to the Cyprus government spokesman. The personal intervention of the UNSG himself to the two sides through his representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar was required before it could open again. The closure was caused by the appearance in the buffer zone of Turkish policemen and was announcd by the Minister of Justice Kypros Chrysostomides following instructions from President Christofias who was in London at the time but hastened to return to the island in order to “monitor” the situation. The Spokesman said Mr Iacovou would remain in London and represent the President at a round-table discussion on progressive governance and at meetings with the British Foreign Office.

Speaking on arrival Christofias said he hoped that this will be the last time such an incident occurs. He said he would be meeting with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Ms Elizabeth Spehar and would also try to contact Talat, who he said, was not guilty of these violations.

Meanwhile people have continued to come and go along Ledra street without any problems since the incident.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, Talat called the events over Ledra street “an isolated incident”. He added that we shouldn’t try to point the finger at anyone in particular and claimed that it was a result of past attitudes under the Papadopoulos government who prevented the opening of Ledra street. He said the policemen had intervened because a demonstration was being held near a military area, something which is illegal. He said he did not expect the incident to be repeated. What’s more, he added, that there was no evil intent and that the group carrying out the demonstration wanted to gain publicity for its cause by attracting the attention of the media.

Simerini writes that Ledra street should have opened quietly and without any fanfare as befits a nation which is still under semi-occupation. Unfortunately all the celebrations create a wrong atmosphere and expectations both at home and abroad. All the foreign papers carried headlines to the effect that this was a historic day for cyprus, that “the Cypriots have pulled down the dividing wall”, and even Ollie Rehn, well known for the passion with which he embraces Turkey’s joining the EU expressed his enthusiasm. Not a word about occupation, occupying troops or refugees, or Turkey as occupier and invader. The opening of Ledra street offers nothing new and does not detract from the invasion. On the contrary, the reality is that the Turkish invasion is continuing and there is not a single indication that Attila plans to leave.