Misplaced Pages

#200799

44-616: The municipal council was elected according to the Municipal Ordinance of 1882, and the District Commissioner with one Greek and one Turkish adviser undertook municipal affairs since November 1884. In 1930, the municipal legislation which made the new corporations liable to government audit, was enacted. However, after the 1931 uprising, the municipal councils were supplemented by government appointees. The municipal elections introduced again in 1943. Until 1958,

88-602: A PhD in history from the Russian Academy of Sciences . At the age of 14, Christofias joined PEOM, a progressive high school student organisation. At the age of 18, he joined PEO Trade Unions and the Progressive Party of Working People 's youth branch United Democratic Youth Organisation . In 1969, at the 5th Congress of EDON, he was elected member of the Central Council. In 1974 Christofias

132-918: A bi-communal human chain to express their concern and fear over radiation leaks from a planned nuclear power plant in Akkuyu , Turkey. Protesters were also commemorating the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. The human chain was joined by The Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL), New Cyprus Party (YKP), United Cyprus Party (BKP), Cyprus Green Party, EDON, KTÖS, KTOEÖS, KTAMS, DAÜ-BIR-SEN, BES, ÇAG-SEN, Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy (UK), T/C The Chamber of Electrical Engineers (EMO), T/C Chamber of Industrial Engineers (ENMO), T/C Chamber of Mechanical Engineers (MMO), T/C Chamber of Environmental Engineers (ÇMO), Friends of Nature, and Green Action Group (Yesil Baris Hareketi). There are

176-474: A building in the cabaret of Luna Park on the Bastion Davila, overlooking Eleftheria Square in 1944. This Cyprus -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ledra Street Ledra Street ( Greek : Οδός Λήδρας Odos Lidras ; Turkish : Ledra Caddesi ) is a major shopping thoroughfare in central Nicosia , Cyprus , which links North Nicosia , the part of

220-494: A demonstration in the capital Nicosia on 12 July, demanding the resignation of Christofias. On 3 October 2011, the results of the investigation regarding the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base explosion were released to the public, placing the blame for the incident mainly on President Christofias, holding him “personally and institutionally responsible” for the blast. Christofias rejected the results of

264-637: A large variety of shops on Ledra Street, ranging from department stores selling luxury goods to small specialty shops selling arts and crafts. Ledra Street hosts the former tallest building in Nicosia, the Shacolas Tower , and is linked to three arcades that include shops and cafes. Dozens of firms from the international market are located on Ledra Street. Dimitris Christofias Demetris Christofias ( Greek : Δημήτρης Χριστόφιας [ðiˈmitɾis xɾiˈstofças] ; 29 August 1946 – 21 June 2019)

308-521: A plan were soon scotched by the nationalists' victory in Northern Cyprus ' 2009 parliamentary elections . On 28 July 2011, Cyprus's cabinet tendered its resignation bowing to political and public pressure after a massive munitions blast at Evangelos Florakis Naval Base on 11 July 2011. Several thousand people upset by the Cypriot government's failure to dispose of the explosives had held

352-462: A policy of economic austerity, which Christofias never signed. He tried to limit the crisis with a €2.5 billion loan from Russia, while opposing the privatization scheme. He also found himself confronted in parliament, where his party held only one third of seats, with the majority of other politicians refusing his proposal to increase taxes on the banks responsible for the crisis. ' Christofias announced on 14 May 2012 he would not seek re-election for

396-570: A ribbon in Kykkou street, the road between Ledra Street and what is known as Lokmaci point in the Turkish controlled part of Nicosia. Addressing the ceremony, Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou said this day is "an auspicious occasion" as it signals the opening of the fifth crossing point in Cyprus. The International Herald Tribune reported that officials released balloons to mark the event at

440-537: A second round on 24 February, for which Christofias received the backing of Papadopoulos's party DIKO . Christofias went on to win the election with 53.37% of the vote. After his success, he stated his support for the closure of Cyprus' British military bases and pledged to restart talks to find a solution to the Cyprus problem . Addressing a crowd in Nicosia , he said he looked forward to "substantial cooperation for

484-543: A second term in the next year, citing a deadlock in talks on the island's reunification . He left office on 28 February 2013, following the presidential elections , and remains the only Cypriot president not to seek re-election. Christofias met Elsie Chiratou while studying in Moscow , and they returned to Cyprus together before marrying in 1972. They had a son named Christos and two daughters named Marianna and Christina. Christofias described himself as an atheist , which

SECTION 10

#1732780673201

528-415: A solution to the Cyprus problem. Christofias appointed his government on 29 February 2008. His first government was a coalition between his own party AKEL, Marios Garoyian 's Democratic Party and Yiannakis Omirou 's Movement for Social Democracy . Christofias started talks with Mehmet Ali Talat on the reunification of Cyprus as a bizonal federal state, but his hopes for Greek Cypriot approval of such

572-692: The Inter-Parliamentary Union and of the Cyprus branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association . The first round of the February 2008 presidential election , held on 17 February, saw a close result between the three leading candidates—Christofias, Ioannis Kasoulides of DISY , and the incumbent Tassos Papadopoulos —Christofias narrowly placing second with 33.3% of the vote, behind Kasoulidis with 33.5%. Christofias and Kasoulidis participated in

616-515: The UNFICYP , the task of patrolling the Green Line and protecting Turkish Cypriot enclaves was taken over by UN troops. During Turkish army's invasion on Cyprus in 1974, Turkish troops occupied northern Nicosia (as well as the northern part of Cyprus). A buffer zone was established across the island along the ceasefire line to separate the northern Turkish-controlled part of the island, and

660-686: The Cypriot Police. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus maintains an immigration checkpoint on its side of the crossing and all pedestrians entering and leaving the North have to go through immigration checks. As with all Green Line crossings, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus immigration will not place entry and exit stamps on passports but on separate visa slips issued by them. The Republic of Cyprus does not maintain any immigration checkpoint at Ledra Street or any other Green Line crossing. It however conducts identification checks on people entering

704-463: The Cyprus government had unilaterally planned for the dismantling of the Ledra Street wall. He added that with demolition of the wall, his government would consent to the passage being opened if Turkish troops which were present in the area were withdrawn, the derelict buildings on either side of Ledra Street strengthened and Turkish troops allowed UNFICYP to check for landmines. He reiterated that

748-531: The Future - Mine Action Centre" proceeded to clear the area of mines on 26 March 2008, and work began to shore up the buildings flanking the street to ensure that they will not pose any danger to the users of the crossing. On 3 April 2008 at 9 a.m. local time (06:00 UTC), the Ledra Street roadblock crossing through the UN buffer zone was reopened after 34 years, in the presence of Greek and Turkish Cypriot officials who cut

792-605: The Political Bureau of AKEL. After the 16th Congress of AKEL, held in November 1986, he was elected as a full member of the Political Bureau, and in 1987 (after terminating his service as General Secretary of EDON) he was elected as a member of the AKEL Secretariat. In April 1988, following the death of Ezekias Papaioannou , he was elected as General Secretary of AKEL, a post he held until 2009. Christofias

836-652: The South from the North. "Elephants for Peace" with a contribution of about 600 objects referring to elephants , such as images or sculptures, succeeded in transforming the frontier line at Ledra Street into a place of festivities for two days on the 9th and 10 May 2009. Rarely has it better been explained than in a letter from Eleni Mavrou , Mayor of Nicosia “…As previously expressed, the Nicosia Municipality sincerely supports and warmly welcomes this creative contribution to dialogue across dividing lines around

880-651: The Town Clerk held the authority over a team of Greek and Turkish employees who undertook municipal fairs for the whole city. After 1974, it is responsible for all the municipal duties on the southern part of Nicosia. The first municipal office was at Chariklia Argirides in Nea Agora area. In 1897 the municipal offices moved to the house of Efrosini Tarsi at the Ledra Street , then moved to a place where it became called Municipality Square, then temporarily moved to

924-411: The UN buffer zone and the intersection with Arasta Street and Girne Caddesi falls within the Turkish part of Nicosia. Traditionally, Ledra Street was the main shopping street of the capital , although in recent years it has been superseded by more accessible streets further out from the centre. Properties on the street are largely for commercial use and command some of the highest real estate prices on

SECTION 20

#1732780673201

968-570: The benefit of both communities". Christofias was sworn in as president at a ceremony in the House of Representatives on 28 February 2008, vowing that "the solution of the Cyprus problem will be the top priority of [his] government". Although he was proud to be a communist, he said he would leave the free market economy alone. While much of the focus outside of Cyprus was on his communist background and education in Moscow, voters were more concerned with

1012-559: The buffer zone which was agreed to remain under full UN control. The Cypriot authorities considered the move a breach of the agreement between the Greek Cypriot President and the Turkish Cypriot President and therefore quickly sealed off the checkpoint. After the arrival and mediation of UN officials, Turkish Cypriot forces withdrew back to their ceasefire positions and the crossing was reopened by

1056-626: The city under the control of the de facto Northern Cyprus , and south Nicosia. It is the site of the former Ledra Street barricade, across the United Nations buffer zone . The barricade symbolised the division of Nicosia between the Greek south and Turkish north. It was removed in April 2008 and Ledra Street became the sixth crossing between the southern and northern parts of Cyprus. Ledra Street runs parallel to Onasagorou Street . The name of

1100-429: The end of an opening ceremony. Immediately afterwards, citizens from both sides began using the crossing. However, later in the day at 9 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC), the Cypriot police closed off the new Ledra Street checkpoint due to a violation of the agreement by the Turkish forces, whose guards penetrated deep into the UN controlled buffer zone. A Cypriot Police source said that two Turkish Guards had refused to leave

1144-436: The end of his term, however, the local banking system collapsed . Putting blame on the banks, he attempted to raise taxes on them as a way of funding the island's recovery, but failed to pass this into legislation. Also citing deadlock in reunification talks , he announced that he would not seek re-election, becoming the first Cypriot leader to opt-out of running for a second term. He remains the only communist head of state in

1188-467: The final word on who will be brought to justice rests with the AG...in no way did we want to stigmatise someone who the AG may later judge there is insufficient evidence to prosecute”. During this tenure as president, Christofias vowed to resume negotiations for the reunification of the island, making it one of the top priorities of his administration. Although his efforts did not lead to reunification, progress

1232-471: The government-controlled Greek south. The buffer zone runs through Nicosia, where it is sometimes just several metres wide, and all roads running through the zone have been effectively sealed. The street south of the blockade was largely pedestrianised in 1998. In December 2005, as talks between the north and south on the reopening of Ledra Street were on-going, the Turkish Cypriot side demolished

1276-533: The history of both Cyprus and the European Union . Demetris Christofias was born on 29 August 1946 in Kato Dikomo , British Cyprus , to a Greek Cypriot family. He had a sister who once donated her kidney to him for a life-saving kidney transplant . He received his high school education at Nicosia Commercial Lyceum, from which he graduated in 1964. He spent five years in Moscow , where he earned

1320-563: The investigation and denied any personal responsibility for the tragedy. Six days later, the police report, "prepared by head of CID at police HQ", recommended the prosecution of 12 people; the police rejected claims they were trying to protect the Presidential palace officials with their report, instead asserting that the "police perform their duties “impartially and objectively”". The police also report that they "carefully avoided saying who and how many we propose to take to court, because

1364-655: The island. During the EOKA attacks that ran from 1955–1959, the street acquired the informal nickname The Murder Mile in reference to the frequent targeting of the British military by nationalist fighters along its course. In 1963, during the outbreak of hostilities between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities following the announcement of unilateral amendments to the Cypriot Constitution, Turkish Cypriots withdrew to North Nicosia which became one of

Nicosia Municipality - Misplaced Pages Continue

1408-410: The many Turkish Cypriot enclaves which existed throughout the island. Various streets which ran between the northern and southern part of the city, including Ledra Street, were blockaded. A ceasefire was arranged at the end of 1963 and a neutral zone was established along the ceasefire or Green Line between north and south Nicosia which was patrolled by British military personnel. With the formation of

1452-499: The move to reopen Ledra Street at that time because the actions had not been agreed to by both sides. The Turkish Cypriot side removed the footbridge on 9 January 2007, a move which was welcomed by UNFICYP. On 8 March 2007, the Greek Cypriot government demolished the wall between the southern portion of Ledra Street and the UN buffer zone and replaced it with 2m-high screens. Then Greek Cypriot president Tassos Papadopoulos said

1496-590: The obstacle to the opening was the presence of the Turkish troops and not the barricade. The move was immediately welcomed by the United Nations and several world leaders. Dimitris Christofias was elected president of Cyprus on 24 February 2008 on a platform of solving the Cyprus problem. In his first meeting with Turkish Cypriot president Mehmet Ali Talat on 21 March 2008, the two leaders agreed to reopen Ledra Street "as soon as technically possible". The United Nations Development Programme "Partnership for

1540-457: The street refers to the ancient city-kingdom of Ledra , established in 1050 BC, that was located in the centre of the island where the capital city is today. The street leads off Eleftheria square , runs in a South to North direction and is about 1 km long. Most of it lies within the area effectively controlled by the Republic of Cyprus while a short stretch at the northern end between

1584-429: The wall between the north and the UN buffer zone and began constructing a footbridge just north of the UN buffer zone. The move attracted protests from both the Greek Cypriot side and UNFICYP. The former expressed concerns over security, saying that the bridge allowed easy access for Turkish armed personnel in the buffer zone, while the latter said although there was no infringement of the buffer zone, it could not support

1628-438: The world. The idea of representing the desire to cooperate and communicate by means of art is both innovating and appealing. Furthermore, the choice of an elephant as a theme for this artistic initiative is not only appropriate but also insightful. We believe it will resonate with citizens of all ages, on various levels…” Eleni Mavrou, Mayor of Nicosia, March 26, 2010 The buffer zone between the checkpoints that divide Ledra street

1672-466: Was a Cypriot politician, who served President of Cyprus from 2008 to 2013. He was previously President of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008 and General Secretary of the Progressive Party of Working People from 1988 to 2009. Taking on the challenge of responding to the 2007-8 Global Financial Crisis , he implemented a wide-ranging social program, increasing pensions and the minimum wage. At

1716-762: Was a Member of the National Council, a supreme advisory body to the President of the Republic. Christofias was ex-officio chairman of the House Standing Committee on Selection and chairman of the ad hoc House Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and of the Special House Standing Committee on Declaration and Examination of Property. He was also president of the executive committees of the Cyprus group to

1760-409: Was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives for the first time in 1991 and was re-elected in the subsequent parliamentary elections of 1996 and 2001. On 7 June 2001, he was elected as President of the House of Representatives . He was re-elected as President of the House of Representatives in 2006. In his function as General Secretary of AKEL and President of the House of Representatives, he

1804-634: Was elected to the post of the Central Organising Secretary of EDON and in 1977 to the post of General Secretary. He served in the latter post until 1987. In 1976 he was elected as a member of the Nicosia - Kyrenia District Committee of AKEL, and in 1982 – at the 15th Congress of AKEL – he was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Party. In July 1986, Christofias was elected as an alternate member of

Nicosia Municipality - Misplaced Pages Continue

1848-420: Was made as ambulances and workers were able to cross the border, trade developed, and confidence-building measures were set in place. He increased the minimum wage and pensions at the beginning of his term, but his social policy was stopped when the Cypriot banking system collapsed as a result of the 2012–2013 Cypriot financial crisis . The European Union then only agreed to grant an aid package in exchange for

1892-462: Was unprecedented by a Cypriot political leader due to the island's overwhelmingly Greek Orthodox outlook. In addition to his native Greek, he was fluent in English and Russian. After experiencing acute respiratory problems, Christofias was hospitalised at Nicosia General Hospital on 20 May 2019. He died on 21 June, aged 72. A period of national mourning was later announced, and a state funeral

1936-489: Was used as a space for activism from the 15th of October 2011 up until June 2012 by the Occupy Buffer Zone movement. On 2 September 2014 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot citizens of Nicosia formed a human chain that stretched from the south part of Ledra Street to the north part of Ledra Street and through the UN checkpoint as a symbol of peace and unification. On 26 April 2011 anti-nuclear protesters formed

#200799