Last nights Good Friday liturgy, at the church of Saint George the Exiler, in Turkish occupied Famagusta, has been hailed by the UN and foreign ambassadors as an initiative which can serve as a prime example of restoring trust between the island’s two communities.

In statements to CNA, they said this is telling proof of how efforts by both communities to work together can yield results.

The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim told CNA today that she welcomed the first Good Friday Service at Ayios Giorgos the Exiler church in Famagusta since 1957.

“After so long, it’s a positive development. I appreciate that the Mayors of Famagusta Mr. Galanos and Mr. Kayalp have once again come
together to help make this happen. Such initiatives improve the atmosphere and build trust,” said SRSG Buttenheim.

The British High Commissioner Matthew Kidd, in his comment to CNA, said that he was “pleased to join today’s celebrations with so many others.”
This, he pointed out, is “an example of how both communities can work in partnership to foster respect for each other and deliver results.”

The Ambassador of the Netherlands,  Brechje Schwachofer, has told CNA that  she felt very privileged to have been at the church service tonight, “at this special and moving religious ceremony, here in Famagusta,” as she noted.
“To me it is proof of the capacity of both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots to unite, to work together. It sends a very welcome message of confidence and the ability and willingness to work towards a common future,” she added.
The church of Saint George the Exiler lies within the walled city of Famagusta, which is close to the fenced off area of the town of Famagusta, known as Varosha.
The town has been under Turkish occupation since 1974. Varosha, abandoned by its Greek Cypriot inhabitants as they fled the advancing Turkish troops in the summer of 1974, has remained under Turkey`s direct control since then. The UN has called for the return of the town to its lawful inhabitants but so far Ankara refuses to comply with such calls.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, engaged in peace talks with the Turkish Cypriot leader, has proposed the return of the city as a confidence building measure to restore trust between the island`s two communities, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.