Minute’s silence for peace

PEACE activists are urging Cypriots to hold a minute’s silence this morning as leaders of the two communities start direct talks in an effort to solve the reunite the island.

At a news conference held yesterday at the Ledra Palace, the Bi-Communal Initiative for Peace (BIP) expressed their full support towards the upcoming negotiations.

“We ask of Cypriots from both sides to hold a minute’s silence during the

Peace negotiations [this morning], and think about the future of our country,” said Georgos Michaelides, the Secretary-General of Cypriot Organisations in Greece, which falls under the BIP umbrella.

“This is in hope of a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem.”

The BIP, which brings together a number of non government organisations, supports attempts to improve relations between Turkish and Greek Cypriots, with the hope of reaching a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem.

In an opening statement, Michaelides said the BIP would be meeting with President Demetris Christofias that afternoon to offer their support ahead of today’s peace negotiations. Michaelides also mentioned that a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat would be scheduled soon.

The organisers cited the example of the United Kingdom and Greece as places Greek and Turkish culture coexisted, in what was described as a great relationship.

Scheduled meetings with the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council were also announced, at which the BIP intend to submit documentation presenting their views.

Commenting about the Turkish side’s recent refusal to allow Greek Cypriot pilgrims through the Limnitis crossing, Michaelides stated that although this was unfortunate they were hopeful a more positive outcome would take place in the near future.

The BIP concluded the news conference saying they intended to plant a tree after each meeting between the community leaders. The trees will be planted in the Ledra Palace grounds and symbolise an optimistic future for Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.