An initiative to build bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus faltered Tuesday after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped a soccer match over a dispute of the game's location.
Mustafa Akinci said he couldn't attend because the small stadium in the mixed village of Pyla was situated within the jurisdiction of Cyprus' internationally recognized, Greek Cypriot-run government.
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An initiative to build bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus faltered Tuesday after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped a soccer match over a dispute of the game's location.
He said that meant there would be no reciprocal game held in the island's breakaway north, as was with previous such events designed to foster cooperation.
"Despite any differences we may have with my friend Mustafa, he and I share a common vision for achieving lasting peace," Anastasiades said.
Despite this, hundreds of people from both communities watched the game under an early spring haze between Nea Salamina and Magusa Turk Gucu, and to also catch a glimpse of retired football star Didier Drogba who attended as vice president of the Monaco-based group Peace and Sport, an organizer of the event.
Alluding to Akinci's absence, he said "we're going to learn the lessons" from the event and that future games should be held on both sides.
A line soccer official takes his position to supervise the Greek and Turkish Cypriots players during a friendly soccer match of "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
He said the match should have been held in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone, but that the U.N. said they couldn't provide security.
A corner flag of Peace and Sports Organisation is seen during a friendly soccer match of "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
He said that meant there would be no reciprocal game held in the island's breakaway north, as was with previous such events designed to foster cooperation.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades — a Greek Cypriot — said the choice of stadium was clear from the outset when organizers had initially pitched the idea.
Anastasiades said his attendance aimed to "send a strong message of hope and peace."
Players of New Salamis walk in from t of a sing of 'Peace and Sport" during a friendly soccer match for "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
"Despite any differences we may have with my friend Mustafa, he and I share a common vision for achieving lasting peace," Anastasiades said.
The wrangle highlighted the complex political challenges that have foiled decades of negotiations aimed at reunifying Cyprus. The tiny east Mediterranean island of just over a million people was cleaved along ethnic lines in 1974 when Turkey invaded in the wake of a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
Attempts to rekindle reunification talks are still ongoing.
Greek and Turkish Cypriot fans hold up white papers to symbolise the colour of peace, during a friendly soccer match for "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
Despite this, hundreds of people from both communities watched the game under an early spring haze between Nea Salamina and Magusa Turk Gucu, and to also catch a glimpse of retired football star Didier Drogba who attended as vice president of the Monaco-based group Peace and Sport, an organizer of the event.
"On the occasion of this friendly match we are celebrating the unity and power of sport and we want to send a message from Cyprus," Drogba said.
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of easyjet who helped organize the event, said soccer's mass appeal on the island can help connect people from either side of the divide.
New Salamis players jumps for the ball as in the background is seen a Cypriot military guard post during a friendly soccer match of "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
Alluding to Akinci's absence, he said "we're going to learn the lessons" from the event and that future games should be held on both sides.
But it was Drogba who stole the limelight. He was swarmed by many fans who jostled for a photograph or sought autographs from him.
Didier Drogba, vice president of the Peace and Sports Organisation, and former soccer player walk by Greek and Turkish Cypriots fans during a friendly soccer match of "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
A line soccer official takes his position to supervise the Greek and Turkish Cypriots players during a friendly soccer match of "Peace" between the Greek Cypriot team New Salamis and the Turkish Cypriot team Magusa Turk FC at Pyla mixed village at the U.N buffer zone, Cyprus, Tuesday, March 19, 2019. An initiative to build more bridges between the Greek and Turkish speaking communities of ethnically split Cyprus through soccer faltered after the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots skipped the event amid a dispute over the venue's location. (AP PhotoPetros Karadjias)
