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Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties agreed Wednesday to begin discussions on a roadmap for making both Greek and Turkish mandatory in primary education across the island.
The talks took place at the Ledra Palace under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy. In a joint statement, the parties said they would ask their leaders to refer the issue to the Bicommunal Technical Committees on Education and Youth.
The meeting was hosted by the Turkish Cypriot Communal Democracy Party, which proposed the discussion topic: “How can we draft a bicommunal roadmap for the mandatory use of both Greek and Turkish in primary education in both communities?”
Party representatives said a bilingual initiative “starting from this room in Nicosia and extending across Cyprus, with the support of the United Nations and the European Union, could create the conditions for the day when learning Greek and Turkish becomes an integral part of primary education in both communities.”
They agreed that the initiative could help build empathy, improve communication, and foster trust, contributing to a sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue.
The parties also expressed sorrow over the recent wildfires in Limassol and Paphos, which caused significant environmental destruction, loss of life, and property damage. They stressed that protecting the island’s environment is a concern for all Cypriots and called for solidarity at all levels.
The next meeting of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties is scheduled for Sept. 24, with the Democratic Rally (DISY) hosting.
