Turkish, Greek leaders release joint New Year’s message, point to peace in Cyprus

The Turkish and Greek leaders of divided Cyprus issued a joint New Year's message on Friday, expressing hopes for peace and the reuniting of their island, the first-ever such gesture, amid a push to get a deal sorted in 2016.

This year saw Greek Cypriot President Nikos Anastasiades and his newly elected Turkish counterpart Mustafa Akıncı make several gestures, including eating a meal together in public and walking around the center of the capital Nicosia. The sides have also reengaged in peace talks and appear to be making some progress, with officials voicing positive sentiments.

"I wish that the New Year would bring permanent peace, calm and prosperity to all Cypriots. To many happy years," Akıncı said in the message, which he read both in Turkish and Greek.

I wish that the New Year would allow us, Cypriot Greeks and Cypriot Turks, to live again in peace in our re-unified motherland. Happy new year," were Anastasiades's words, also in both languages.

Both presidents helped each other to read and memorize their messages. Akıncı was more fluent in Greek compared to Anastasiades in Turkish.

The Mediterranean island was divided in 1974, after Turkey used in guaranteeing rights to over the island and staged a military operation after military coup leaders in Greece tried to take over the entire island through a coup in the island that followed a decade of inter-communal violence and isolation of Turks in several strongholds.

The Greek south, which claims sovereignty over the entire island as the Republic of Cyprus, has international recognition and joined the European Union in 2004, despite assurances from the EU that it would not be the case until a permanent peace is established over the island. Meanwhile the north, administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus only recognized by Turkey, remains largely isolated.