Larnaca: Building trust between the communities and overcoming the division in Cyprus have always been the aim of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) when facilitating religious visits, UNFICYP Spokesperson Alim Siddique told CNA on Wednesday, following a visit by Turkish Cypriots to Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Siddique said that on Tuesday, 80 Turkish Cypriots arrived at Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque in two buses, adding that the crossing process and the visit proceeded smoothly and without any problems. When asked whether UNFICYP also facilitates visits by Greek Cypriots to religious sites in the north, the spokesperson confirmed that the Force facilitates religious visits in both directions.
Siddique emphasized that one of the aims of facilitating such visits is to enable people to access places connected to their faith and heritage. "It is about allowing people to connect with their faith and heritage and helping to overcome the division on the island," he stated.
When questioned about whether access to religious sites can be considered a confidence-building measure, Siddique affirmed that this has long been a part of UNFICYP's mandate. "That has always been the goal. The reason we facilitate these visits is to help build trust between the communities and overcome the division," he explained.
Meanwhile, as UNFICYP announced on Tuesday, its Civil Affairs Officer, Munehiko Harada, noted that facilitating access to religious sites is a "vital part" of the Force's work to build trust and foster relations between the communities. "It's about creating the space for people from both communities to connect with their heritage and with each other. When we coordinate a service or help organize a visit such as today to Hala Sultan Tekke, we are doing more than just facilitating crossing; we are helping to bridge a divide that has kept communities apart for decades," Harada said.
UNFICYP Acting Senior Police Advisor Paul Slattery added that the role of the United Nations Police is to ensure the safe conduct of religious visits. "From a policing perspective, our role is to ensure these religious events happen safely and without incident," he said, highlighting that coordination with local police services and management of procedures at crossing points are crucial.