The Green Party on Thursday laid a wreath at a monument to Turkish Cypriot doctor and pro-Cypriot unity activist Ihsan Ali, on the eve of the 46th anniversary of his death.
Ali was born in the Paphos district village of Vretsia in 1904 and studied medicine in Switzerland, before returning to Cyprus and opening a medical practice in Paphos in 1934.
While on the island, he opposed nationalist elements in both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, arguing instead for “peaceful coexistence”, and expressing a will to make Cyprus “the Switzerland of the Mediterranean”.
He expressed disagreement with the London and Zurich agreements of 1959, which formed the basis of the Republic of Cyprus’ constitution and stipulated separate municipalities and courts for the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, as well as creating guarantor powers of Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
He became an advisor to President Archbishop Makarios in 1970 and remained in post until his death in 1978.
On Thursday, Green Party leader Giorgos Perdikis described Ali as “the pioneer of friendship between Greeks and Turks”.
The wreath, he said, is “a token of appreciation for the fight and contribution of this man, who stood against the extremist leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community, stood by President Archbishop Makarios, and supported the Republic of Cyprus until the end of his life”.
“In this fight, we must continue within the framework of the negotiations for a united Cyprus which will belong to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to keep its people far from dependence on foreign powers, foreign armies, or guarantees, and bring about a united Cyprus,” he said.
Perdikis was joined in Paphos by party member Oz Karahan, who was arrested last month for unfurling a banner which read “Republic of Cyprus: the only solution” at Cyprus’ independence day parade.
Karahan and fellow party member Giorgos Tattis unfurled the banner at the parade and were informed by police that displaying banners with political content at the parade is prohibited.
However, they reportedly refused to take the banner down, and as such were arrested.
