NICOSIA — The rival leaders of ethnically-divided Cyprus have taken the unusual step of jointly condemning attacks against Turkish Cypriots during a protest by Greek Cypriot students.

Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots Mustafa Akinci said in a statement on Wednesday they stand united “against racism and hatred” and vowed to punish the wrongdoers.

Anastasiades also offered to pay for damage sustained by the Turkish Cypriots’ cars during Monday’s attacks in the internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot south.

Police said one Turkish Cypriot sustained a chest injury while another person had an eye wound, in three separate incidents during an annual student demonstration against the Turkish Cypriots’ 1983 declaration of independence.

The leaders said they won’t allow such incidents to jeopardize ongoing talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus.