Greek-Turkish Cypriot politicians launch rapprochement events

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties have launched a series of events aimed at promoting rapprochement between the two communities.

Speaking Tuesday night during the first event, a reception at Famagusta Gate, Nicosia, organized by the Slovak embassy in Cyprus, left-wing party AKEL General Secretary Demetris Christofias expressed the wish that Greek and Turkish Cypriots will soon have daily contact and meetings in a reunified Cyprus.

General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Republican Turkish Party Omer Kalioncu said that “our efforts have one goal, to reach an agreement that will give us the opportunity to live together in our own homeland.”

Addressing the reception, attended by leaders or representatives of Greek and Turkish Cypriot political parties, Christofias said “tonight’s evening is a special one” noting that this first meeting was a social.

He added that other events, political and sports, will follow.

Kalioncu recalled that Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot parties hold regular meetings at Ledra Palace, noting that “today we meet under different circumstances to give a different pattern to our activities fron now on.”

He said that in this framework such common activities will be organized in the government controlled and in the occupied areas of the island and expressed hope that these events will contribute to the goal of reaching an agreement for the settlement of the Cyprus question.

Present at the event was the Slovak Ambassador to Cyprus Jan Varso.

As it has already been announced, on April 14 a football match will be held with mixed teams of political party leaders at Centinkaya’s footsal grounds.

Furthermore, it has been decided that groups of students from the two communities would visit political party headquarters. The visits will be launched on April 18 when a group of Turkish Cypriot students will visit AKEL’s headquarters, followed by a group of Greek Cypriot students visiting the headquarters of the Republican Turkish Party.

It was also decided that the leaders of the parties would visit places of worship. On May 4 the leaders will visit Hala Sultan Tekke mosque and on May 11 the church of St. Barnabas.

On May 21 a reception will be held at Buyuk Han, in Cyprus’ occupied areas.

Regarding youth activities, on June 9 a common social event will be held at Ledra Palace, with the participation of music bands from both communities.

In September, the leaders of the parties will visit private hospitals and in October private schools on both sides.