The leaders of Cyprus’ Greek and Turkish communities went together to watch a pro-peace play to reinforce their comment to the settlement process.
Mustafa Akıncı, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Republic of Cyprus president Nicos Anastaiades watched the play in the southern resort town of Limassol, which is hometown to both leaders.
“On this island, we committed mistakes, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” Mr Akıncı told AFP after the play. “The point is to derive lessons from these past mistakes and build a better future for younger generations.”
It was thought to be the first time that opposing leaders in Cyprus watched a play together. The island was divided along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup aimed at uniting it with Greece.
Mr Anastasiades is expected to reciprocate the visit with a trip to the Turkish north.
The Greek Cypriot leader vowed to ask his education minister to perform the play in all schools south of the divided so that it could convey the message that mistakes were made on both sides since the island gained independence from Britain half a century ago.
“We will work tirelessly with my dearest friend Mustafa to bring peace, to give a chance to younger generations to live in peace and prosperity,” Mr Anastasiades was quoted as saying.
Mr Anastasiades greeted Mr Akıncı on the steps of the historic Rialto Theatre with some onlookers clapping their approval.
Niazi Kizilyürek, a Turkish studies professor at the University of Cyprus, helped translate the play from Turkish to Greek. He described the work, by Turkish Cypriot poet Faize Özdemirciler, as an “unbiased lamentation and a lashing out at Cypriots’ collective suffering — and responsibility — for managing to drive a wedge between both sides”, AP said.