Africa | America | Asia | Australasia | Europe | India | Middle East | UK | US

Statesmen cross Cyprus 'no man's land' for peace - Summary

Athens/Nicosia - Former US President Jimmy Carter, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi crossed the border into Nicosia's  no man's land  Thursday in a show of support for peace talks to reunify t...
Posted : Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:18:35 GMT
By : DPA
Category : Europe (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
Europe World News | Home
Athens/Nicosia - Former US President Jimmy Carter, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi crossed the border into Nicosia's "no man's land" Thursday in a show of support for peace talks to reunify the divided island of Cyprus. Encircled by dozens of bodyguards, journalists and photographers the three statesmen crossed over the UN-controlled buffer zone at Ledra Street on foot into the northern part of Cyprus to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

"This is fantastic," said a smiling Desmond Tutu, adding "The Berlin Wall has fallen - this proves that all barriers are intended to come down."

Carter, Tutu and Brahimi arrived on Cyprus late Wednesday as part of a meeting of the organization The Elders, a group of 12 Nobel laureates and human activists who try to help resolve global crisis.

The trio are holding separate talks on Thursday with Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Talat, as well as with United Nations envoy Alexander Downer.

The move to open up the symbolic crossing over the United Nations- controlled buffer zone was agreed upon at a landmark meeting in March between newly-elected-Christofias and Talat.

Ledra Street had been barricaded from 1964 when British peacekeepers decided to divide the street between Nicosia's Greek and Turkish communities as a result of inter-communal fighting.

The entire island has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the northern third of the island in response to a Athens-led coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.

While Ledra Street operates like any other crossing requiring a passport or ID for pedestrians to pass through from one side to the other, its reopening signals a climate of trust in efforts to solve the long-running Cyprus problem after years of stalemate.

A UN peace plan to reunite the island in 2004 failed after it was largely rejected by Greek Cypriots in a referendum, although the Turkish Cypriots voted overwhelmingly in favour.

"We want to tell the people here that nowhere in the world is there an intractable problem," Tutu was quoted in the Cypriot press, speaking before students gathered inside the UN-controlled buffer zone dividing the island.

"I come from South Africa where some thought its problems could only be solved through violence. It was not, and now South Africa is a democracy," said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

The former US president said that the Elders visited the island to offer support to the cause of peace.

"The overwhelming sense that all of us have is that this is a decision that must be made by the Cypriot people and no one from outside."

Christofias and Talat officially launched a new round of peace talks September 3 and will meet again Friday for the fourth time. So far, negotiations have provided few results.

"We pray and hope and trust the two leaders will be successful," said Carter, adding that "it is very important for the people living here to know that the rest of the world is pulling for you."

Copyright DPA

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : Statesmen cross Cyprus 'no man's land' for peace - Summary
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader


Related News

Slovenian peacekeeper dies in a firearm incident in Kosovo
Ljubljana - A Slovenian soldier serving as a peacekeeper in Kosovo was killed Tuesday in a firearm incident, the ministry of defence said in Ljubljana. The incident was under investigation, but its circumstances did not initially imply the involveme...

German police quiz four alleged Chinese 'spies' - Summary
Karlsruhe,Germany - German police have searched the homes of four alleged Chinese spies in Munich, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. A spokesman in Karlsruhe confirmed the quartet were under investigation for espionage. ...

Kroes confirmed as Dutch European Commissioner candidate - Summary
The Hague - The Dutch government has confirmed outgoing European commissioner Neelie Kroes as the country's candidate for the next European Union executive Tuesday. The current competition commissioner would however not return to her present job but ...

New European Commission team nearly complete - Summary
Brussels - The composition of the next European Commission, the European Union's executive arm, headed towards completion Tuesday with a handful of formal nominations from the last four member state...

Germany boosts aid to Afghanistan, Pakistan for 'good governance'
Berlin - Germany is to increase its development aid to Afghanistan by 52 million euros (78 million dollars), the German government said Tuesday. Afghanistan would receive a total of around 144 million euros in 2009, to help the government of Presiden...

German girl, 16, jailed for foiled bid to massacre schoolmates
Bonn, Germany - A 16-year-old girl who attempted to kill teachers and fellow pupils at her German co-ed high school was sent to youth prison Tuesday for five years. She was foiled when another girl observed her in the school toilets preparing her pis...

Kroes confirmed as Dutch European Commissioner, report says
The Hague - The Dutch government has confirmed outgoing European Commissioner Neelie Kroes as the country's candidate for the next European Union executive, Dutch news agency ANP reported Tuesday. As competition commissioner, Steely Neelie has earn...

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 

More Europe (World) News click here
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

 


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.