Speaking to Yeniduzen, the original residents of the village expressed their wishes: “We want to return to our villages, to have the freedom to enter them, and to rebuild our communities”.
The “Maronite Opening,” a process announced by former President Mustafa Akıncı in 2017 that saw no progress in subsequent years, resurfaced with the recent religious ceremony held by the Maronites for Saint Marina’s Day.
Due to security checks, the Maronites’ entry into Gürpınar (Ayia Marina), still used as a military zone, took almost two hours, delaying the ceremony’s planned start. They lined up to perform their ceremony in their ancestral lands.
Village headman Partellis Hadjifessa stated, “We want to return to our villages, to freely access them, and to rebuild our homes”. He added, “We want to return for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren, and those who passed away with the hope of returning”.
Sofia Hadjifessa said, “Although our village is under Turkish military occupation, we are grateful to the Turkish Cypriots for allowing us to visit a few times a year”. Michalis Antoniou from Asomados, another Maronite village, remarked, “The return of Maronites, who maintain good relations with both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, is crucial for fostering closer ties between the two communities”.
Four years ago, Partellis Hadjifessa told Yeniduzen, “As Maronites, we demand the fulfilment of promises made to us”, adding, “We were ready to return to our villages. We don’t know what happened afterward. Politicians indicated that the military faced issues relocating from our villages”.
After the ceremony in Ayia Marina, Partellis Hadjifessa reiterated their longing to return and expressed a desire to have their voices heard.
