Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have reiterated their determination for reunifying Cyprus.
They both inaugurated, Monday evening, an exhibition at the Costas & Rita Severis Foundation of former Cyprus President`s Glafcos Clerides` personal collection, including 3,000 books, 4,000 photographs, maps, medals and other memorabilia.
“Glafcos Clerides, a fierce warrior of peace, formed his first political impressions during World War II, the most destructive recorded war ever experienced by humanity”, President Anastasiades said in his address. As a prisoner of war in the German camps, he added, “Glafcos Clerides experienced first-hand the brutality of this war.”
He continued noting that “the immensity of Glafcos Clerides’s spirit, allowed him to transform those brutal memories of hatred and destruction into a life of purpose and meaning, guided by his personal vision for peace.”
“His life’s goal became the reunification of Cyprus and the peaceful coexistence of its people,” Anastasiades stressed.
President Anastasiades continued noting that “his legacy is marked precisely by that vision: To see lasting peace and prosperity take root in his beloved homeland, Cyprus. Clerides passionately defended this vision until the end of his days, against all odds.”
“During his lifetime and his political career, Glafcos Clerides was regrettably not fortunate enough to have as an interlocutor at the negotiating table, a Turkish Cypriot leader, who shared his vision for Cyprus”, he said.
Today, he added, “I have the privilege to be here with Mustafa Akıncı, a Turkish Cypriot leader, who shares the same vision; A vision of transforming Cyprus into a model of ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic cooperation and coexistence.”
He further pointed out that “we both agree on the fact that turning our vision into reality will not materialise overnight.” It will require, he noted, “political courage and determination in order to overcome challenges so as to reach a settlement, which will respect the sensitivities of both sides; A solution that will leave no winners or losers.”
President Anastasiades conveyed the message that he is “deeply committed and determined to put an end to this unacceptable status quo, and reunify our country and its people in a prosperous European member state, fulfilling in this way the promise to my political mentor, Glafcos Clerides.”
On his part Mustafa Akinci said he feels privileged to paying tribute to a “special man” as he described the late Glafcos Clerides, together with Anastasiades “with whom we have embarked on a journey to create a better future for our common country.”
He referred to the Greek Poet Kavafis and his famous poem Ithaca. As he said in the poem Kavafis “advises people to always keep Ithaca in their minds during their journey.” Likewise, he pointed out, “I believe we must not lose sight of our goal for a better and brighter future for our younger generations in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federal solution where all Cypriots will live in peace and harmony.”
“Let us join forces in order to achieve a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible. The journey of negotiations has been going on too long”, he said. Let us keep our journey to Ithaca much shorter this time, he urged, adding that much has already been learned from the previous journeys.
“Let us demonstrate the necessary determination to change the fate of Sisiphus”, he stressed.
Referreing to Clerides was one of the few leaders with whom he could establish a sincere dialogue during the period when both of them were party leaders.
On her part, Clerides` daughter, Katie, said “it was my fathers deepest wish to see his beloved Cyprus reunited”, adding that “I am therefore deeply honoured and happy that the two leaders who are committed to reunification and are working tirelessly to achieve this end are here with us today to honour my father and inaugurate his library.”
Referring to the Rita and Costas Severis Centre for Visual Arts and Research, she recalled that it is the first bi-communal museum in Cyprus pointing out that “this was the most significant reason for my choosing it.”
“It symbolises a commitment to cooperation and reunification and it corresponds fully with my father`s political philosophy and vision of Cyprus”, she said.
Costas Severis presented a condensed version of the life of Glafcos Clerides and his vision to reunite Cyprus. “His unwavering commitment was always to build bridges in an effort to bring the two sides together leading to reunification and lasting peace”, he said.
“He passed away before realising his dream”, he noted. However, he assured, “his dream is our dream and today we live in hope.”
Severis said the people of Cyprus “have great expectations from our two leaders” and urged them that “now is the time for reconciliation, now is the time for a better future in a united Cyprus.”
Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN backed talks resumed this May between Anastasiades and Akinci aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.
