There will be real progress in the negotiations for the Cyprus problem only if we are allowed to visit all our churches in the Turkish occupied areas, Archbishop Chrysostomos II has said.

The Archbishop was invited by the press Monday to comment on the Good Friday liturgy that took place at the church of Saint George the Exiler, in Turkish occupied Famagusta.

He noted that the image we send abroad, as the liturgy was broadcast on TV, is false and it is a picture that shows Turks as being democratic. The Archbishop went on to say that the liturgy took place only in one of our occupied churches, adding that the Turkish side must allow us to visit all our churches in the occupied areas.

He also pointed out that many mosques and other Muslim sites have been restored by the Greek Cypriots, adding that we demand from the Turkish side to do the same for all of our 500 pilgrim sites in the occupied side.

As it was announced, there will be a second mass Wednesday at the Church of Saint George the Exiler.

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.