Church leaders participating in the International Meeting for Peace “The Civilisation of Peace: Faiths and Cultures in Dialogue”, organized here by the Church of Cyprus in cooperation with the Saint Egidio Community, pledged to pray for a successful conclusion of the negotiations for an overall settlement to the Cyprus issue.
The statement was made by Antonios Naguib, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, speaking through an interpreter at Monday’s session of the meeting who said “we cannot but promise to pray for a good ending to the negotiations”.
Naguib was responding to a speech by Democratic Rally deputy Eleni Theoharous who in her speech in the framework of a panel discussion on religions, conflicts and the challenge of co-existence, said Cyprus has been forgotten and the international public opinion does not remember it. She referred to the situation on the island, noting that the Turkish occupation forces are responsible for the division of the island and wondered how Turkey, which violates human rights, insists on its European course.
In his remarks, Italian Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, also speaking through an interpreter, said that the religions, which have gathered in Nicosia with the people of culture and politics exhibit the willingness not to submit to fatalism.
Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kasimis told the panel that the time has come for Europe.
He said in this new cultural reality, Europe has an obligation to actively participate, adding that the EU has started functioning as a unified organization. Crisis such as that of Lebanon and the Caucasus were very important for the Union because for the first time there was direct European initiative, which was not interrupted by intervention, he noted.
The same, he added, is evident in the economic crisis, whereby Europe has appeared united and effective from the first moment.
Moscow Patriarchate representative, Bishop Valentin said that without love, nothing can be achieved.
The International meeting, which is attended by religious leaders, heads of state and representatives of different cultures and faiths, as well as intellectuals, secular scholars and journalists, wraps up on Tuesday.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island’s territory.
President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat meet weekly in the framework of direct negotiations held since early September under UN auspices.
