Musicians
Larkos Larkou and Hatice Ardost are no ordinary couple, meeting through
social media and inspired by their love of music. Until at least a decade ago
their relationship would have been unheard of in a country riven by conflict
and distrust.
"It’s
not really a subject of discussion in our household," Larkou, 43, says
somewhat awkwardly as he sits cradling a cup of tea by the kitchen counter at
the home he shares in Cyprus with Ardost, 34, his wife.
"Whether
Hatice is a Turkish Cypriot and I’m a Greek Cypriot might be a subject for
others, but for us, this is completely natural."
Ardost
nods vigorously. "Two human beings being together is not a miracle."
Their
union is emblematic of a gradual thaw in relations between Greek and Turkish
Cypriots in Cyprus, home to one of Europe’s most enduring conflicts.
The
island has been split since a Turkish invasion in 1974 prompted by a Greek
Cypriot coup. The two populations were kept almost entirely separate until
rules for traveling across the dividing line were eased in 2003.
On-off
peace talks over the years have repeatedly foundered over the property rights
of thousands of internally displaced people, different interpretations of how
close a new reunion will be, and the influence of Turkey over any reunified
Cyprus.
With
two moderates now at the helm of talks, diplomats are now hopeful that a deal
is within reach to solve the Cyprus conundrum after years of failed
initiatives.
But
while politicians slog it out at the negotiation table, Cypriots on both sides
of the divide have taken matters into their own hands.
Ardost
and Larkou are among a small, but growing community of mixed-marriage Cypriot
couples, transcending psychological and physical barriers. They married within
two months of meeting in 2014, and are expecting their first child later this
year.
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