Over 1,100 Turkish Cypriots visited the Hala Sutlan Tekke, in Larnaca, to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, on Wednesday.

The Turkish Cypriot pilgrims arrived at the mosque at 11.00 hrs in the morning and left at 15.00 hrs in the afternoon.

Security measures were taken by the police. The diplomatic officer responsible for the religious track Peter Weiderud also visited the mosque.

In statements to the press Cyprus Mufti Talip Atalay said that this year the celebrations for the birth of Prophet Muhammad come at the same time as Christmas and he wished Greek Cypriots a Merry Christmas.

As you know we are here, today, on the basis of the dialogue I have with his Excellency Archbishop Chrysostomos, he said referring to the religious track of the Cyprus peace process under the auspices of the Swedish Embassy and he thanked the UN and the leaders of all other religious groups in Cyprus for supporting their efforts.

For many years, he noted, this country has seen us live together in peace and this is a good example for us to build our future.

We need to take the best examples from the past in order to build our future, Atalay added.

He also expressed the point of view that more confidence building measures need to be put in place.

Atalay further said that the ultimate aim should be to have a vision of cooperation not just in Cyprus but in the region as a whole.

The language religious leaders use must not be divisive, he noted among others, adding that we should leave the political announcements to the politicians.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN backed talks resumed in May aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.

There have been five pilgrimages organised since the summer of 2014 as a result of the agreements reached by the religious leaders in the framework of the religious track and the support of Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.