Two sides of Cyprus mark invasion

CYPRUS: Cypriots on opposite sides of the dividing Green line marked in different ways yesterday's 29th anniversary of Turkey's invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island.

Greek-Cypriots lowered their national flag to half mast and prayed at sombre church services while Turkish-Cypriots flew high the flags of Turkey and the breakaway state and attended military parades staged by Turkish troops in the northern sector of the divided capital and regional towns.

Although mourning and marching are traditional activities during this season, this year the two sides have, for the first time, come together to demonstrate joint regret for the Athens-engineered coup and Turkish invasion which led to the division of Cyprus into communal sectors.

Greek-Cypriots were able to meet because on April 23rd the Turkish-Cypriot side partially lifted restrictions on movement across the line. Since then nearly half a million people have made the crossing, visited former homes, met old friends and opened new relationships.

Trade between the two sides has restarted and hundreds of Turkish-Cypriots, the majority of whom back reunification, have applied for passports from and jobs in the more prosperous Greek-Cypriot majority republic, which is set to join the EU next May.

Observances of the 1974 events were launched last Thursday night by a mass rally in Eleftheria (Freedom) Square in southern Nicosia, attended by 2,000 Greek-Cypriots and a number of Turkish-Cypriots.

On Friday night a group calling itself Solution Now held a candle-lit vigil at the main crossing point between the two halves of Nicosia to remember those from both communities who lost their lives during July and August 1974.

Last night members of both communities were invited to a joint event at Limassol port where a Japanese peace ship carrying 800 passengers had docked.

While popular reconciliation and rapprochement have made great strides, politicians cannot bridge the divide. The Turkish-Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, reiterated his rejection of the UN plan for reunification ahead of EU entry and said he would not permit his parliamentary opposition, which supports the plan, to sideline him in December's election.

The Cypriot President, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, has called for revisions in the UN plan and a "European solution", governed by the blocs regulations and laws on freedom of movement, settlement, property and employment within EU member-states.