Jim Murphy

Cyprus: reopening of Ledra Street

Parliament is in recess at the moment but just before I left London I met the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in London. I hope to visit Cyprus in the coming months, and when I am there, I will make sure that I take the time to walk through the newly opened Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia. Last Thursday, thanks to the hard work of both communities, the crossing - in the heart of old Nicosia - was opened, after being closed for 45 years. This move is an extremely important symbol of the new mood within Cyprus - the equivalent of barriers being taken down on Oxford Street. For this to be achieved so soon after President Christofias' election and the first meeting between the leaders of the two communities is a tribute to their relationship and political courage. The collaborative manner with which they addressed the (inevitable) problems around the opening was also an encouraging sign for the, no doubt, challenging times that lie ahead. I'm proud that British peacekeepers also did their bit as part of UNFICYP.

An open Ledra Street is already having a significant impact on life in Nicosia. It's estimated that more than 20,000 Cypriots went through the crossing on the first weekend - many of them going into the north for the first time since 1963. The newspapers in Cyprus are carrying heart-warming stories of old friendships re-forged and individual acts of kindness and generosity. The economic impact has also been significant - with some traders reporting a 100% increase in business and plans to open new cafes and shops around the crossing point. This, in microcosm, supports our belief that reunification of the island would bring substantial economic benefits for both communities.

However, progress must not stop there. This confidence building measure is an achievement that should be celebrated, but it must be built on. The focus must now be on making sure that the constructive atmosphere in Cyprus continues, and that fully-fledged negotiations, under UN auspices, are able to start soon.

Achieving a settlement for Cyprus is one of my own personal priorities. The UK will use its contacts on the island, throughout the region, and here in Britain to support the UN's efforts. But above all, as the opening of Ledra Street demonstrated, the work towards a comprehensive settlement must come from Cypriots themselves - any future plan will be for Cypriots, by Cypriots.

Posted at 15:34 14 April 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[1]