The demilitarization of the walled city of Nicosia is part of President Tassos Papadopoulos' proposals to the UN with regard to opening a crossing point at the end of one of the capital's main commercial streets, Ledra street.

The president stressed the importance of securing safe passage for Cypriots crossing from and into the Turkish occupied areas of the country, at this specific location.

"Our proposal provides for the withdrawal of troops from both sides. We had two alternative proposals, first the troops from the vicinity should be withdrawn by both sides, the area to be turned over to UN control or total demilitarization of the walled city of Nicosia and the policing of the area turned over to the police and UNFICYP," he explained as he answered questions of foreign media correspondents at a lunch hosted by the CNA on Tuesday.

He said that after the demolition of a bridge, illegally constructed by the occupation regime in the area, the Turkish occupation forces have established positions in the area and manned military posts within the buffer zone while he wondered whether the UN, that have the responsibility in the buffer zone, will accept this violation of no man's land.

Source: Athens News Agency

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