Groups from both sides send message of unity ahead of Swiss talks

Scores of Greek and Turkish Cypriot groups urged the leaders of the two communities to remain committed to the vision of a reunited island ahead of a crucial round of talks scheduled for Sunday and Monday in Switzerland.

In a joint declaration, 120 organisations expressed hope that negotiations would be successful this time.

“We support efforts for an agreed solution and urge the two leaders to negotiate seriously and arrive at an agreement that will meet the expectations of the Cypriot people,” the statement said.

“We urge them to remain committed to the vision of a reunited and peaceful Cyprus, the homeland of all its children. The time has come to bury the violence, nationalist surges, and bigotry of the past for good, and build our common future together.”

The groups said they were organising a music and dance event on Monday, when the two leaders hold talks in Switzerland, to send a united message “that we support and encourage them to return to Cyprus with good news.”

“We will meet, all of us together, Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins,” at 6.30pm, at the Cetinkaya football club pitch, located in the moat near the Ledra Palace crossing point.

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.