Death brings Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders together

The two leaders stood side-by-side at the funeral of Stelios Hiratos in the port city of Limassol, news agencies reported. Â

 

Christofias said he hoped he would next meet Talat in better circumstances. "Deaths have brought us together at a mosque ... now at a church," Christofias said, World Bulletin reported citing Reuters.

 

Christofias crossed to the northern side of the island last year to attend the funeral of Zehra Ozgur, the wife of Turkish Cypriot politician Ozker Ozgur.

 

"I hope Greek and Turkish Cypriots will soon be able to come together for the joys of everyday life," the Greek Cypriot leader added.

 

Christofias, dressed in black with his wife Elsi, initially fought back tears but then wept openly during the service for his father-in-law, the agency said.

 

Talat, introduced as a friend of the family, laid a wreath of red roses on a wooden coffin, it added.

 

Talat and Christofias last September began slow-paced reunification talks, after a four-year hiatus.

 

The talks scheduled for Thursday were cancelled due to the death of Christofias's father-in-law. The leaders will meet on Feb. 25, the date scheduled for the next round of talks