Cyprus president: "historical reference" not a policy change
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Cyprus' president has rebuffed claims by breakaway Turkish Cypriots that new legislation making the annual commemoration of a 1950 vote in support of union with Greece compulsory in Greek Cypriot schools threatens to derail peace talks.
President Nicos Anastasiades said Monday the legislation "about a mere reference to a historical fact" in no way reflects a change in Greek Cypriot policy to reunify the ethnically split island as a federation.
The commemoration would involve taking a few minutes of the school day to note the event and elaborate on its significance.
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Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci repeated Monday the legislation could hurt peace talks.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup aimed at union with Greece.