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Greek and Turkish Cypriots have removed a blockade that has separated them for half a century. Ledra Street, a thoroughfare in the heart of Nicosia had become a potent¹ symbol of Cyprus's ethnic² partition.

希腊裔和土耳其裔的塞浦路斯人拆除了将他们分离了半个世纪的路障。尼科西亚市中心地带的莱德拉大道一直是塞浦路斯种族分离的有力象征。

Piles of sand bags, soldiers with rifles and sentry³ points that have long been the visual symbol of this island's division have given way to the bustle⁴ of pedestrians⁵ crossing through the capital's oldest shopping street.

成堆的沙袋、携带步枪的士兵和岗哨长期以来一直是塞浦路斯分裂的显著标志，现在在这条尼科西亚历史最悠久的购物街上，这些都让位于熙熙攘攘的行人。

You still have to have your passport stamped when crossing from the Greek sector⁶ to the Turkish side, which takes a few minutes, so this is by no means an open and free crossing.

从希腊裔街区前往土耳其裔街区仍然需要在护照上盖章，但这只需要几分钟时间。因此，这决不是一个开放的、可以自由通过的过境点。

But the technicalities were brushed aside Thursday as both Greek and Turkish Cypriots savored⁷ the moment.

但是，在希腊裔和土耳其裔塞浦路斯人今天庆祝这一时刻的时候，这个技术性程序也被搁置在一边。

George Iacovou, aide to Cyprus President Demetris Christofias, was the first to speak at the opening ceremony.

塞浦路斯总统赫里斯托菲亚斯的助理亚科武是第一个在庆祝开放过境点仪式上讲话的人。

"We aspire⁸ to the elimination⁹ of crossings and the opening of all roads in this country for all its citizens with no obstructions¹⁰ as a consequence of its reunification," said Iacovou.

亚科武说：“我们期望为所有的公民拆除这个国家的过境点，开放所有的公路，由于统一不再存在任何障碍。”

Ozdil Nami the aide to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was also upbeat.

土耳其裔塞浦路斯领导人塔拉特的助手纳米也表示欢欣鼓舞。

"We are witnessing the overthrow¹¹ of one of the obstacles for the reunification of the island," said Nami. "It has been a very symbolic¹² crossing point."

纳米说：“我们正在目睹为了这个岛国的统一，拆除一个障碍。这里曾经是一个非常具有象征性的过境点。”

UNFICYP spokesperson Jose Luis Diaz says the events are a step in the right direction and he is hopeful progress between the two communities on the Cyprus problem can be made soon.

联合国驻塞浦路斯维和部队的发言人迪亚兹说，事情正向正确的方向发展。他希望，两个社区能在塞浦路斯问题上尽快取得进展。

"We think it is important because the closing of Ledra Street has become a symbol for the division of Cyprus, so we hope this opening will mark the beginning of a process of engagement between the two sides that will lead to a settlement of this long-standing dispute," said Diaz.

迪亚兹说：“我们认为，这是重要的，因为莱德拉街已经成为塞浦路斯分裂的一个象征。所以，我们希望开放过境点代表双方进行接触的开始，将导致这个长期以来的争端获得解决。”

Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey deployed¹³ troops after a coup¹⁴ by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece.

希腊裔和土耳其裔塞浦路斯人自从1974年以来一直处于分裂状态，当时在希望同希腊统一的希腊裔塞浦路斯人发动政变之后，土耳其派遣了军队。

Cyprus' government demolished¹⁵ a wall and military checkpoint on Ledra Street last year. But plans to reopen the street were rejected by President Christofias' predecessor¹⁶, Tassos Papadopoulos.

塞浦路斯政府去年拆除了莱德拉街上的一堵墙和那里的军事检查站。但是，重新开放这条街的计划遭到塞浦路斯前任总统帕帕佐普洛斯的反对。

The removal of this barrier connects two different worlds - prosperous southern Cyprus, with its brand-name shops such as Starbucks and Marks and Spencer, to a row of tiny Turkish Cypriot traders selling fake jeans, carpets and the latest mobile phones at knocked down prices.

拆除障碍物把两个不同的世界连接在一起，一边是富裕的南塞浦路斯，他们拥有诸如星巴克、玛莎等品牌商店，另外一边是一排土耳其裔塞浦路斯商贩的小店铺，他们出售假冒牛仔裤、地毯和廉价的最新款式的手机。

The Ledra Street crossing is now the sixth barrier to open connecting the two communities.

莱德拉街过境点是目前第六个开放的、连接两个社区的路障。

Even though the removal of the Ledra crossing may be just a symbolic move, U.N. Undersecretary-General Lynn Pascoe sees an opportunity to solve the division of this island.

尽管拆除莱德拉街过境点可能只是一个象征性的行动，联合国副秘书长帕斯科认为，这是解决塞浦路斯分裂问题的一个机会。

"The two leaders have set their sights on achieving a fair and last solution and I think Cypriots are right to have high expectations," said Pascoe. "I am encouraged and will pass this on to the secretary general when I talk with him."

帕斯科说：“两位领导人已经决心要达成一个公正和长久的解决办法，我认为塞浦路斯人怀有很高的期望是正确的。我很受鼓舞。当我和秘书长谈话时，我会把这个消息告诉他。”

After the United Nations failed attempt to reunite Cyprus in 2004, Pascoe's words are welcome news to Cypriots who want to end the division of this island.

在联合国没能在2004年促成塞浦路斯统一后，帕斯科的话对希望结束这个岛国分裂局面的塞浦路斯人来说是一个好消息。