President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader on Wednesday pledged to do their best to reunify the island in addresses to hundreds of people who braved the cold to take part in a peace march that started in northern Nicosia and ended in the south.
Organised by the bicommunal movement for peace and reunification, some 250 people marched to demand their leaders did what was necessary to reach an agreement in Geneva next month.
“We urge our leaders to intensify their efforts towards achieving a positive result,” a resolution said. “We also call on the wider masses of Greek and Turkish Cypriots to unite in joint action to push for a solution and reunification.”
The march started in the north, outside the office of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
“I really believe we went through a lot, we have shared the grievances of the past, the black shadow of the past, the suspicion of the past,” the Turkish Cypriot leader said, accepting the resolution from the demonstrators.
Was it not the time to create a better future for the younger generations so that they could share better days, prosperity, peace, a better and brighter future, Akinci said.
The Turkish Cypriot leader reiterated that the matter was at a crucial juncture and due to this “certain rejectionists on both sides started raising their voices at a time when we have not yet reached an agreement.”
Veteran politician and head of the bicommunal movement, Takis Hadjidemetriou, expressed hope that problems of the past would be overcome, paving the way for a new era.
“We believe it is time for the problem to be solved and to create a new beginning for our country, a new start,” Hadjidemetriou said.
The march then headed south with people chanting “Peace in Cyprus cannot be stopped” in Turkish and “Cyprus belongs to its people” in Greek.
Crossing the Ledra Street checkpoints, the marchers continued as the bicommunal choir sang peace songs.
“The people are interested in a solution that secures peace,” Costas, one of the marchers said.
The marchers boarded four buses and headed to the presidential palace where they were welcomed by undersecretary to the president Constantinos Petrides.
Anastasiades, who is in Brussels, tweeted his regrets for not receiving the resolution himself.
“But I want you to know that I continue the reunification efforts.”
Petrides said the current state of affairs was an anachronism that had to be abolished.
“The only way to modernise our country, to move forward is for this effort by the leaders to succeed,” he said. “Let us hope we turn the page.”
