Europe

Greek Cypriots demand return of land in reunification talks

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Residents of Morphou city, at the Turkish Cypriot breakaway north part of the island, gather outside of the presidential palace holding a banner reading "Morphou is not up for bargaining", in Nicosia, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Some 200 Greek Cypriots have staged a peaceful demonstration calling for the return of their homes and farmland, as part of any deal to reunify the ethnically divided island following the peace talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Sunday in Switzerland. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

The shadow of a resident of Morphou city, at the Turkish Cypriot breakaway north part of the island, is seen on a banner with photos of the city reading "Morphou is not up for bargaining" outside of the presidential palace in Nicosia, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Some 200 Greek Cypriots have staged a peaceful demonstration, calling for the return of their homes and farmland as part of any deal to reunify the ethnically divided island following the peace talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Sunday in Switzerland. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

Residents of Morphou city, at the Turkish Cypriot breakaway north part of the island, gather outside of the presidential palace holding banners in Nicosia, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016. Some 200 Greek Cypriots have staged a peaceful demonstration calling for the return of their homes and farmland, as part of any deal to reunify the ethnically divided island following the peace talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Sunday in Switzerland. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

About 200 Greek Cypriots have gathered outside Cyprus' presidential palace to demand the return of their homes and farmland in any deal to reunify the ethnically divided island.

Morphou Mayor Charalambos Pittas told the Associated Press that Friday's peaceful demonstration was intended to get President Nicos Anastasiades to live up to his pledge of making the return of the fertile town a part of the ongoing reunification talks.

Anastasiades and breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are meeting in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland for two days next week to negotiate how much territory either side would administer under an envisioned federation.

A 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a coup aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece split the island along ethnic lines.