Nicosia barrier replaced by Border Crossing - Live

Euronews was one of few global TV media news channels to report live on the opening of the Ledra Street Crossing in Nicosia at the time. BBC, CNN and others continued with coverage of the NATO meeting but did not even mention the Ledra Street opening until later broadcasts if at all.

The Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia was opened to pedestrian traffic at 9am on 3rd April 2008, for the first time since the barbed wire dividing Nicosia's main shopping Street was placed there by British forces in 1963. This opening was as agreed between newly elected Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat during their meeting on 21st March. The opening replaces the previous barrier with a border between the two sides, with passports needed in order to cross. The opening was not accompanied by a pull-back of Turkey's occupation army and demilitarisation across the entire Green Line dividing Europe's last capital as had been hoped for by the Greek side. Turkish Army Chief of Staff Buyukanits had visited Cyprus days before to provide his 'seal of approval' to the action carried out.

Unfortunately this was not an actual 'bringing down of the barriers', but rather the creation of another border crossing separating the two sides. The impenetrable division of Europe's last divided capital remains, but the event was presented as a symbolic step forward in order to maintain a climate of optimism about the future.

Monitoring of Euronews was itself quite interesting, because though they cut to this item quite often from other news stories, using their "Live, No Comment" format, it was noticeable that though they showed 'general scenes' they studiously avoided ANY coverage of the spoken content in the ceremony. It could be argued they wished to generate an impression through their coverage about how the barrier had been removed, but wished to intentionally avoid the spoken content which would clarify that this was just a symbolic opening. Such non-reporting of the comments made by speakers at the ceremony that the division of Europe's last divided capital remains was something Euronews clearly wished to avoid.

The closing seconds in the EuroNews report end with a view of the flag of the Republic of Turkey, flying in the heart of the capital city of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia.

(Other clips on this profile do provide those comments)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• LedraStreet
• Nicosia
• Lefkosia
• Cyprus
• dividedcapital
• Greek
• Turkish
• Cypriot
• Turkey
• army
• division
• occupation
• κύπρος
• τουρκική
• εισβολή
• invasion
• humanrights
• echr
• illegal
• unitednations
• europeanunion
• councilofeurope
• britishbases
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• guarantees

[kolokotronis2007]

Is this a joke? Our own officials advising that we need a "passport" to go HOME? Why are we playing this stupid game and giving legitimacy to the barbarians? Our struggle was reduced to celebrating the opening of a few stores? Have we really lost all decency? Just look up at the mountain A giant blinking flag of shame! What are we celebrating? Another defeat? A "small step" towards what? Recognition of the occupiers? Shame on us!

[grokked]

... thank you for posting this comment!

[durandeniz1]

@kolokotronis2007 You are right. There is no reason to celebrate. You grandfather and his friends played a risky POKER game,what was NOT necessary, unfortunately they....... Now you and your friends have to suffer. Go and blame your grandpa. Stop pointing Turks for your grandfathers stupidity.

[durandeniz1]

@ballbreaker1900 so i am evil and you are sweet! Come on don't bullshit me :)))

[vasosfromcyprus94]

@NectarineSoup We (turkish and cypriots) become from 2 different nations. Apart this, we are affected by each other's history. Cyprus has more than 400 years of history being under the Ottoman Empire. We have similar ways of living (some kinds of food, some words etc), and we are neighbours (with Turkey). We, as people, have to be friends no matter what makes us different. Because we have something in common; we are people! Peace to all! :)

[NectarineSoup]

@vasosfromcyprus94 I agree, I'm british/greek cypriot and went to school filled with many greeks and turkish students. I came to the conclusion that we have extremely similar families, our passions run high, and we cook the same food....and its all bloody delicious.

[1200Daytona955i]

I have just come back from my first visit to the wonderful country and people of Cyprus, and I hope it will not be the last. Perhaps it is now time to put the past to bed, where it belongs, and to try to reach a lasting settlement. Those who consider themselves Turks, or Greeks, first, and Cypriots second, should maybe go and live in Turkey or Greece, and leave the island to those who are Cypriots above all else. There was harmony on Cyprus for hundreds of years. It`s time to return to it.

[vasosfromcyprus94]

@elektromatskipjack A little bit late, but I've seen this video now! That little island is not a coffee or a meal! This is an island with more than 10,000 years of history on its back! I agree, greeks and turks are same people to me too!

[LAtoOC]

Why are Cypriots accommodating the Turkish occupation of their country?

[Isousa63]

whufcmetz  then why did the Turks invade Cyprus mate... it was not there`s in the first place

[captaingoatbeard7]

@ballbreaker1900 ballbraker1900=foolish bigot

[ballbreaker1900]

islam=evil