NicosiaNicosiaThe Green LineThe Green Line

At the At the beginning…beginning…

• The WALL was built in 1974, in The WALL was built in 1974, in order to divide the Greek Cypriot order to divide the Greek Cypriot part from the Turkish half.part from the Turkish half.

• It divided Nicosia into two parts, It divided Nicosia into two parts, crossing Ledra Street.crossing Ledra Street.

Ledra Ledra streetstreet

• Ledra Street Ledra Street perfectly perfectly represents the represents the difference difference between the between the Greek and the Greek and the Turkish part.Turkish part.

• In the first we can find the wealthy In the first we can find the wealthy part of the city; instead, the Turkish part of the city; instead, the Turkish part is crumbling down. part is crumbling down.

The Green LineThe Green Line• The term Green Line refers to the The term Green Line refers to the

cease-fire line that cease-fire line that de factode facto divides  divides the island nation of Cyprus into two, the island nation of Cyprus into two, cutting through the capital of cutting through the capital of Nicosia. It was first established in Nicosia. It was first established in 1964. 1964.

• Traffic across the buffer zone was Traffic across the buffer zone was very limited until 2003, when the very limited until 2003, when the number of crossings and the rules number of crossings and the rules governing them were relaxed. governing them were relaxed.

Another breach in the Another breach in the wallwall• Nicosia had been divided for a quarter-Nicosia had been divided for a quarter-

century—since Turkey’s 1974 invasion—century—since Turkey’s 1974 invasion—and the government of the Republic of and the government of the Republic of Cyprus was busily preparing the country Cyprus was busily preparing the country for accession to the European Union.for accession to the European Union.• In the ensuing In the ensuing decade, several decade, several checkpoint checkpoint crossings were crossings were opened by opened by authorities in the authorities in the occupied north occupied north in 2003.in 2003.

The fallThe fall• In March 2008, a In March 2008, a wall that for wall that for decades had stood decades had stood at the boundary at the boundary between the Greek between the Greek Cypriot controlled Cypriot controlled side and the side and the UN buffer zone was UN buffer zone was demolished. demolished. 

• The wall had cut The wall had cut across Ledra Street across Ledra Street in the heart of in the heart of Nicosia and was Nicosia and was seen as a strong seen as a strong symbol of the symbol of the island's 32-year island's 32-year division. division.

• On 3 April On 3 April 2008, Ledra 2008, Ledra street was street was reopened in the reopened in the presence of Greek presence of Greek and Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot officials.officials.

Realized byRealized by

Emilio Ainis Emilio Ainis schoolschool

MessinaMessina