NICOSIA BARRIER TO BE DISMANTLED

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.03.2008 12:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Rival sides on divided Cyprus were preparing to
dismantle a poignant symbol of half a century of division in a move
diplomats hope will improve the climate for new peace talks.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot authorities said they would start work
from Monday, removing a barrier from the main commercial district
of Nicosia that has split the United Nations-patrolled medieval city
into two since 1958.

"If everything goes to plan we could expect the road to reopen March
31, or possibly April 2 or 3," Greek Cypriot town mayor Eleni Mavrou
said, Reuters reports.

The decision was taken by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and
leader of Turkish Cypriots Mehmet Ali Talat on March 21.

Cyprus was partitioned after a Turkish invasion in 1974, which came
shortly after a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta ruling
Greece at the time.

Shortly before joining the European Union in 2004 the Greek Cypriots
rejected a United Nations plan to reunify the island.