On 2 August this year, his beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II, the leader of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus said the church supports new efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem and that he fully supports the new initiative to reunify the ethnically divided island. "We wish the President success, because his successes will be to the benefit of our people and homeland", Archbishop Chrysostomos was quoted as saying by the daily Cyprus Mail. Archbishop Chrysostomos claimed Wednesday that without talks Greek Cyprus could not solve its "national problem."

The comments come as a pleasant surprise considering that the Archbishop voted against the last Annan reunification plan. An indicator of how far Cyprus has changed since 2004, it is even more surprising considering that Archbishop Chrysostomos was also behind a campaign letting Greek Cypriot residents know, "If you vote 'yes' for the Annan Plan, you will not go to heaven." Even in ecumenical language, this "major rebirth" in the Church's position is itself a "miracle”.

DISAGREEMENT

While his comments can only be viewed as positive, we all know that considering the past role of the Church in whipping up Greek nationalism in Cyprus, the Archbishop is quite capable of making the odd out-of-touch remark from time to time.  Recently, the Archbishop criticised President Christofias for his handling of the peace process and warned the Church would act "vigorously" if the education system was changed. Naturally the Archbishop is entitled to his views and President Christofias was 100% right to argue that "patriotic" talk has gravely harmed Cypriots and that it will hurt Cypriots again if they do not stop,  but President Christofias' subsequent anti-sectarian statement did not help matters but succeeded in fuelling the Archbishop's wrath further.

With brooding ill humour; the President pointed out that the Republic "is not a theocratic state." An unnecessary reminder, the statement can be construed more an assault on the Church than on the archbishop's clumsy words. Growing angrier or expressing his disappointment, President Christofias then reminded the bishop that he was only voted by 10% of Greek Cypriots (who voted in a Church election which was probably rigged) while he was voted by over 50%.

Behind the latest row lay disunity and this was regarded with disappointment by many Cypriots at this crucial time in the peace process. True to form the Cyprus Communist Party (AKEL) are distrustful of the Church; Karl Marx who was pessimistic of religion once said "Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes" ("Religion is the opiate of the people"). It may be that the party also resents the fact that the Archbishop formerly endorsed the candidature of first former President Papadopouls and then DISY's Ioannis Kasoulides in the second round of the presidential elections. But surely some disagreements are best kept unvoiced in the national interest? It is incongruous with the spirit of the peace process that the public row between Archbishop Chrysostomos and President Christofias occurred only days before the start of negotiations.

 ACT IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST

This disagreement should not be exaggerated. It is important to note that, so far, President Christofias has done a fantastic job, speaking the correct language and avoiding deadlock and confrontation with his counterpart Mehmet Ali Talat. This is highly commendable considering the pressure the Turkish Cypriot leadership is under from Turkey and its military, which President Christofias is fully aware of.  With Papadopoulos in charge, there would have been less patience. No doubt President Christofias like Mr Talat in his determination to seek a Cyprus solution is putting the national interest first, but he needs to do this south of Green Line as well.

After all Christofias is not the only one acting in national interest.

DISY's leader Nicos Anastassiades has also been very courageous and has also taken many big steps in the national interest. He is the leader of a right-wing political party whose members traditionally come from a Greek nationalist background with links to EOKA B. Yet, Mr Anastassiades is a modern European Christian democrat whose party has transformed itself into a modern Christian Democratic/ conservative party that supports reconciliation and power sharing with Turkish Cypriots and reunification. Despite his clear ideological differences with AKEL, on domestic issues, DISY's leader has thrown his full weight behind President Christofias without seeking any cabinet posts in return. DISY is also continuing to work with the Christian Democrats check this – they are in this group Popular Socialist Movement under the 'Social Alliance' movement.  

DISY’s presidential candidate Mr Kasoulides said: "It is well-known that our support for President Christofias was, and is, not given in return for any reward of sorts. Ours is a selfless and patriotic stance which emanates from the historic responsibility we have towards our homeland," he said. As a Greek Cypriot leader addressing the Turkish Cypriots, Anastassiades said that it was time "we worked in unison to transform" Cyprus into a land of prosperity for all. "We will continue to be in conversation with all of the Turkish Cypriot parties, giving the message that we have to leave the divisive past behind us, learn from our mistakes and build for the future," he said. Yet despite this, like an unfathomable enigma, the President's response was that although both parties believed in the same cause in the Cyprus problem, they still maintained their differences elsewhere. Well, naturally…  But considering DISY's support to AKEL at this crucial time, which clearly is above partisan politics, was it really necessary if not churlish I wonder to make that distinction so clear? Cyprus has long needed the unity of the two main groupings in the Greek Cypriot community on the national issue. 

CULTIVATE SUPPORTERS – DO NOT PUSH THEM AWAY

Let us not forget that although it is great that two left-wing leaders have come to power in Cyprus for the first time and that a solution is more likely coming from a left-wing administration, a solution will need to be endorsed across the political spectrum and from the different faiths too. Certain issues such as a Cyprus solution are just too important to remain political. Civil society, the Church, the Mosque may not be directly involved in political decision making but they must all nonetheless support this process to add weight to it.

Both Cypriot leaders must cultivate those who are on the periphery of supporting a solution. They need as much support as they can gain for any solution they negotiate, which will inevitably go to referendum.  The current negotiations are at a very crucial time in Cyprus' history. They will determine whether the island will have a peaceful solution or whether the status quo will continue as it has done for many more decades. At stake is the future of the Cypriots themselves. Only a solution can lay the foundations for a secure and prosperous future. Only a solution can guarantee the political and economic existence of the Turkish Cypriots, the very existence of Cypriot Maronites and begin to deal with Greek Cypriot property issues. Looking at the even bigger picture, Turkey's EU aspirations too are at stake.

Neither leaders should make enemies but instead reach out to their traditional opponents, particularly if like Archbishop Chrysostomos they have come so far as to actually endorsed negotiations aimed at reunification. Considering the past role of the Church, there is no denying that this recent move by Archbishop Chrysostomos is a huge step for the Church? Neither the Church nor right-wing politician Nicos Anastassiades should be pushed away by partisan politics.