The Republic of Cyprus was and remains a common possession of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, President Demetris Christofias said here Wednesday following a military parade to honor the 48th anniversary of the island state's independence from British colonial rule.
Christofias, along with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, launched new round of substantive talks last month in a bid to reunify the eastern Mediterranean island divided.
"We aim to reunify our country peacefully ... under the roof of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots with no foreign military presence," said Christofias.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, Christofias noted "Cyprus is too small to be divided and big enough to accommodate all its children."
Earlier Tuesday, Christofias told the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) in Strasbourg that no-solution was not a solution and Cypriots did not have the luxury to fail in the recently renewed peace effort.
He also revealed that during his recent meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he suggested that the UN chief promote an agreement to abolish the annual military exercises in and around Cyprus, namely the Nikiforos exercise, carried out by the Cyprus National Guard, and the Toros exercise, by the Turkish military forces in northern Cyprus.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared the establishment of the breakaway "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Turkey.
For several decades, the UN has continuously worked to persuade the two communities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, which is also a main obstacle to Turkey's bid for European Union membership.
Source: Xinhua
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