In the second half of the twentieth century, the capitals of Germany and Cyprus were cut in two by a wall. In 2009 Berliners celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall, while Nicosia's wall is still standing.  EuroparlTV went to Cyprus to document life be

Reporter: The rise of the Nicosia Wall

On the advent of the 20th anniversary   of the fall of Berlin the wall,

We went to Cyprus,   divided in two since 1974

between Greek Cypriots in the south,   and Turkish Cypriots in the north.

The Nicosia wall is an everyday   reminder of the tense situation,

Loizos Afxentiou stands in front of his   childhood home, now totally abandoned.

Like tens of thousands of Cypriots in   1974, following the Turkish invasion

he had to flee his town,   Famagusta, in the north of Cyprus.

Loizos is taking a risk, this is now a   military zone under Turkish control.

In 2006, during an interview here   with a Swedish TV station,

Loizos was arrested by   the North Cyprus secret police,

but, undeterred, his hope to take   his house back trumps all.

In another part of Famagusta, Varosha,   stretching for several square kilometres,

is only inhabited by wild cats and snakes.

Loizos story is that of tens of thousands   of Cypriots.

The Turkish invasion created an exodus   of 200,000 Cypriots.

Cyprus was cut in two, with a buffer zone   in the middle, the UN's Green line,

The Greek Cypriots took refuge   in the south,

The green line cuts the capital,   Nicosia, in two.

Signs of combat are still present   35 years on,

Nicosia is the last EU capital   split in two.

In Nicosia the wall is already fracturing.

In 2008, the famous street, Ledra,   the main trading street in the centre

was opened to both communities   and tourists.

All you need is a passport   or identity card to pass the border.

Before you could only see the other side   via a little window.

These small victories should not mask   the tension that remains

between President Dimitris Christofias   of Cyprus,

and leader of the Turkish Cypriot   community Mehmet Ali Talat.

In the background are Turkey's 42,000   soldiers stationed in Northern Cyprus

A deterrent force which makes Ankara   President Christofias' interlocutor.

All is not lost, the majority of Turkish   Cypriots hope for better relations

In 2004 65% of Turkish Cypriots were in   favour of the reunification project

proposed by the UN, the Annan plan,   which was refused by the Greek side.

Everyday thousands of Turkish Cypriots   cross the divide to work in the south.

Sener Excil, Secretary-General of   the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union

is a regular on radio shows which support   bringing the two communities together.

Every year the Cypriots proclaim   the right to live together.

During an anti-occupation march,   this MEP from Morphou, in the north,

asks that international laws   are respected

and for an end to   Turkish military occupation.

In December the EP must announce   its position

The Cyprus dilemma will be at the heart   of the debates.