İncirli: Peace Means Building Trust Between Communities

The CTP attended the sixth Pyla Peace Festival, organised in cooperation with the Pyla Turkish Cypriot Mukhtar’s Office, the Pyla Greek Cypriot Mukhtar’s Office and the Pyla office of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Speaking at the festival, CTP leader Sıla Usar İncirli said: “Peace goes beyond a political goal. It means communities trusting one another, growing closer, and developing their relations through mutual understanding and respect.”

The festival was held on the artificial turf pitch behind Pyla Turkish Primary School. İncirli also met with President Tufan Erhürman, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, and Khassim Diagne, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus and Head of the UNFICYP mission. She embraced participants from both communities and conveyed messages of friendship and solidarity.

The programme opened with speeches by Greek Cypriot Pyla Mukhtar Simos Mytides, followed by Turkish Cypriot Pyla Mukhtar Veysal Güden.

In addition to İncirli, the festival was attended by several members of parliament, candidates, youth organisation members, party supporters and many members of the public.

İncirli said the festival’s return after a six-year break had generated great excitement in both communities and expressed her happiness at attending the event.

Referring to the prolonged deadlock in the Cyprus problem, she highlighted the passage of time, saying: “Over the years, children have grown up, and young people have struggled to realise their dreams.”

Emphasising that peace transcends politics, İncirli said bringing the communities closer together was what mattered most.

“Peace goes beyond a political goal. It means communities trusting one another, growing closer, and developing their relations through mutual understanding and respect. This festival has been a very good example of that,” she said.

“WE WANT NEGOTIATIONS TO DELIVER RESULTS”

Addressing the negotiation process, İncirli said: “We no longer want negotiations to end in disappointment; we want them to produce results. It is important that the work being carried out progresses with a focus on results, within a defined timeframe and through a method that will not lead to further disappointment.”

She also stressed the importance of Turkish Cypriots being able to establish direct relations with the world and access opportunities in education, sports, the arts and the economy, as well as international representation.

İncirli added that the participation of both leaders in the festival was particularly meaningful.

“CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES PLAY A DECISIVE ROLE IN CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE FOR A SOLUTION”

İncirli concluded by stressing the need to restore trust between the two communities and avoid actions that erode confidence.

Citing recent incidents involving the obstruction of sporting and cultural events, she warned that such developments risk damaging the peace process.

“Confidence-building measures play a decisive role in creating an atmosphere for a solution,” İncirli said, underlining their importance.

She ended her remarks by sincerely thanking everyone who had contributed to the festival.