CYPRUS HOPES AGAIN

by RAY FLEMING
PROGRESS was slow along Ledra Street in Nicosia, Cyprus, yesterday because of the crowds; the same thing on Lokmaci Street and on the strip of road that used to be known as “Murder Mile”. Greek Ledra Street, Turkish Lokmaci Street, the British soldiers' “Murder Mile” fifty years ago -- all the same place at the centre of Nicosia and yesterday thronged with celebrating Cypriot crowds -- Greek and Turkish -- and probably some British tourists as well, along a street whose barricades had come to symbolise the division of this small island since 1958. The UN peacekeepers came in 1963 after the Turkish invasion of the north of the island and are still there. The removal of the barricades this week is a direct result of the recent election of the communist Demetris Christofias as the Greek Cypriot President; all his predecessors in office resisted plans for reconciliation with the Turkish community but his election campaign promised a change of heart. He has found a ready response from Mehmet Ali Talat, the Turkish Cypriot's leader, and they agreed that the re-opening of Ledra/Lokmaci Street would be a good start to what may still be long and difficult negotiations. “It's just a crack in the wall,” said a former Greek Cypriot mayor, “but many cracks make walls come tumbling down.” When the celebrations are over ID cards will still be needed to move between the two sectors but the optimism in Cyprus is now palpable.