Turkish Cypriot leader Akinci is powerless in the face of Easter ban and here is why...

The Turkish Cypriot ban on the Good Friday service at Famagusta's St. Exorinos Church is inexplicable, shameful and unacceptable. This ban was imposed by the right-wing National Unity Party UBP-Democratic Party DP coalition. And unfortunately,Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci has no power to do anything about it. The system in the north is such that the president- aka Turkish Cypriot leader- is largely symbolic. Akinci's sole authority is to lead the Cyprus negotiations. He is not related to the coalition parties and his party Social Democracy Party TDP is in opposition. This is very different from the Republic of Cyprus, which has a presidential system, whereby the president is both head of state and head of government.

Bringing down walls – brick by brick

Nicosia Turkish Municipality’s Mayor Mehmet Harmanci’s thoughtful gesture this week demonstrated how a small step can indeed go a long way.

The banners extending Easter wishes to Orthodox Cypriots placed on both sides of the road leading to the Agios Dometios crossing point in the northern part of Nicosia meant so much for peace building on this island.

The reaction I got after posting a photo of one of the banners on social media was even more encouraging. So many likes, shares and appreciative comments. Such a welcoming sentiment both among Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Not a single negative comment. Not a single criticism… People thanking Harmanci, and especially Greek Cypriots floating the idea that the Nicosia Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis should reciprocate with a similar message during bayram – the Muslim holidays… I am sure Harmanci made this gesture without expecting anything in return. Whether Yiorkadjis reciprocates this or not is not really important. The real gain is that people saw the good will, the warmth, the sincerity of this gesture. They appreciated. They felt good. They felt respected. They started thinking… And that is when real change begins.

It is the small, kind gestures like this that will bring down the walls brick by brick, and bring real peace to this island. True respect for each others’ special days, celebrations, holidays and bayrams... True respect for each others’ happiness, joy, grief and pain… True respect for each others’ fears and concerns… Respect - even when we can’t understand, even when we don’t agree… This is what will bring true peace to this island and make it a better place for all our children – the Turkish Cypriot, Greek Cypriot, Orthodox, Muslim, Armenian, Maronite, Latin, migrant children…

If this gesture helped crack – not bring down, but even crack – a single wall in a single Greek Cypriot’s heart and mind, then we win. Cyprus wins.