Comenius kypriako.2ppt

COMENIUS PROJECTCOMENIUS PROJECT““EUROPEAN DIVERSITY EUROPEAN DIVERSITY AND SHARED VALUES AND SHARED VALUES

FROM THE PAST THROUGH TO THE FROM THE PAST THROUGH TO THE PRESENT”, 2010-2011PRESENT”, 2010-2011

DROSIA PRIMARY SCHOOLDROSIA PRIMARY SCHOOLLarnaca, CYPRUSLarnaca, CYPRUS

CYPRUS PROBLEM CYPRUS PROBLEM Turkish invasion in 1974 and its results...Turkish invasion in 1974 and its results...

*Turkish Colonisation*Turkish Colonisation*Destruction of Cultural Heritage*Destruction of Cultural Heritage

Presented by E’2 classPresented by E’2 classTeacher: Elena ChristofidouTeacher: Elena Christofidou

April 2010April 2010

♦ At this presentation students of E`2 class present two of the results of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus in 1974.

♦ In specific, through paintings and pictures students present the following issues concerning the Cyprus problem:

♦ Destruction of Cultural Heritage,

♦ Turkish Colonization

STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage

The Cypriot and foreign press, as well as the testimonies given to the authorities of the Republic by various sources, prove that more than 500 Greek Orthodox churches and chapels and 17 monasteries that are located in towns and villages of the occupied part of our island have been pillaged, deliberately vandalised and/or torn down. The current location of their ecclesiastical furnishings and items (which include more than 15.000 portable icons) remains unknown to this day. The most significant and priceless of these icons have already been auctioned off and sold by art dealers abroad.

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage Since the summer of 1974, all the legitimate archaeological

excavations in the occupied part of the island in the Districts of Ammochostos (Famagusta), Kerynia and Morfou were interrupted and transferred to the free areas of Cyprus.

Unique archaeological remains dating to all the historical periods of Cypriot civilization, including countless sculptures, ceramics, figurines, statuettes, basins, tools, weapons, manuscripts, historical accounts and other works of art have been stolen and illegally exported to be sold at high prices in the international market. This is a clear indication that illegal excavation of archaeological areas is commoplace.

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage The Department of Antiquities has both evidence and

testimonies of destruction that has occurred not only due to abandonment but also to illegal excavations, looting and/or building activities. This information has reached the Department of Antiquities either via articles in the Turkish-Cypriot press sometimes accompanied with photographs, or via various government sources.

Most sites and monuments have been given Turkish names in an attempt to disassociate them from their origin and context, thus alienating them from their true identity.

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage In addition to the looting of museums in the occupied areas,

illegal exportation of antiquities and smuggling of items permanently exhibited or displayed in the museums or forming part of unpublished material from the storerooms of foreign archaeological missions, was reported. The Department of Antiquities has similar testimonies concerning missing Byzantine icons, ecclesiastical vessels, embroideries and woodcarvings from the Bishopric of Kerynia, as well as all the icons and manuscripts kept, until 1974, in the Centre for the Conservation of Icons and Manuscripts of the Monastery of Agios Spyridon in Tremetousia. These activities are tangible proof for the total lack of respect towards the Greek Orthodox places of worship, and by the Turks in the occupied areas.

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage A very large number of churches have been converted into mosques and stables; several,

were demolished, as for example, the Church of the Avgasida Monastery in the Ammochostos District, dated to the 15th century and decorated with wall-paintings from the same period. In 1989, an expatriated Cypriot who visited this village confirmed the destruction of the church. The whereabouts of the wall-paintings and the beautiful wood-carved iconostasis remain unknown.

Valuable and significant wall-paintings and mosaics decorating the interior of many churches, as well as many exhibits or icons that were looted from museums, churches and private collections have been smuggled out of Cyprus and ended up for sale in markets throughout Europe, America and even as far as Japan. Few of these have ever been repatriated. An example worth mentioning is the case of the Church of Panagia Kanakaria in Lythrangomi. In 1989 the Department of Antiquities initiated repatriation procedures for the return of four mosaics depicting the figures of the apostles (A.D. 520-530), which the Turks had removed from the apse of the church sometime after 1979. They were exported from Cyprus and were eventually located in 1988 in the possession of the American art dealer Peg Goldberg, in Indianapolis, USA. After a lengthy trial that commenced in Indianapolis in 1989 and continued for two years, the court ruled in favour of the legitimate owner, that is the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, and the mosaics were returned to their rightful owners.

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Another example of Turkish barbarism is the removal of the wall-paintings (dated to the 13th and 14th centuries) from the Church of Agios Themonianos at the village of Lysi in the Ammochostos District. In 1984, a Turkish dealer of antiquities sold the wall-paintings depicting Christ Pantokrator and the Virgin with the Archangels, on the pretext that they had been found by accident. After a hard struggle it was recognised that the Orthodox Church of Cyprus was the legitimate owner. There is a plethora of relevant articles in the Turkish-Cypriot and foreign press, particularly in well-known newspapers of international circulation in the UK, USA and Germany. The case of the Church of Panagia Chrysotrimithiotissa, of Middle Byzantine date, one of several churches that the Department of Antiquities was unable to declare an Ancient Monument due to the Turkish invasion in 1974, located on the outskirts of the Trimithi village in Keryneia District was of particular concern. On the 6th of May 1996, Keskin & Smith Sales Agents advertised the sale of the above church in the English Turkish-Cypriot newspaper Cyprus Today for the sum of 32,500 pounds sterling.

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage Another article in the same Turkish-Cypriot newspaper, dated 11th May 1996, mentioned that

the Monastery of Panagia Eleousa in occupied Rizokarpaso, was converted after its “renovation”, into a hostel with a restaurant. Regarding this specific monastery however, permission was granted for the modification of the church into a bar, with the exception of the monastic buildings. In June 1993 the Turkish newspaper Milliyet printed an article that stated that the Turkish government had given permission for all the churches in the occupied territories to be converted into mosques.

Another example is the recent discovery of the wood-carved “royal doors” from the Church of Agios Anastasios in the occupied village of Peristerona in Famagusta District, which were found in the Art College Kanazawa in Japan. Attempts are being made for the return of the “royal doors” to Cyprus with the assistance of UNESCO. In the event that the Japanese do not comply, legal measures will be taken.

Also there is information regarding the destruction of two other churches, Agios Thomas, Trikomo and Agios Georgios, Rigati. The latter, located on a hill with a view of the area extending to 4km. to the north-east of Filia village, was torn down and a new road was built over it. Also the 9th-10th century wall-paintings that decorated the rock-cut chapel of Chrysokava in Keryneia were destroyed and thirteen icons from the 19th-century Church of Archangelos Michael in Kerynia were stolen (Kibris, 1994).

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Destruction of Cultural Heritage Icons were also stolen from the Monastery of Panagia Apsinthiotissa near the village of Syhari. The

church of the monastery was converted into an animal pen and sections of the wall-paintings (12th-14th centuries) that decorated the church were removed. These have been located in antiquities markets in Europe (Nostra Kibris, 24-30/4/1994).

The Monastery of Agios Panteleimon in Myrtou dating to the 18th century was desecrated and is being used as a military camp.

Certain 16th-17th century icons, including a Bible inlaid with precious stones, were stolen from the 16th century Franco-Byzantine Church of Agios Mamas in Morfou (Ortam, 24/4/1986).

The early Christian basilica of Agia Triada in Karpassia, that has mosaic floors dating to the 5th and 6th centuries, is being used as an animal pen.

The Church of Agios Photios in Gialousa, built on the ruins of an early Christian basilica from the 6th century and decorated with wall-paintings, is also being used as an animal pen.

The wall-paintings from the Churches of Agia Solomoni and Agios Nikolaos in Koma tou Gialou were removed and sold.

Icons and other ecclesiastical items were stolen by Turkish-Cypriot “policemen” from the Monastery of Apostolos Andreas (1992) as well as from the Church of Agia Mavri at Rizokarpaso. The windows of the churches were removed, thus having the 12th-century wall-paintings exposed to the elements (I Simerini, 8/3/1993).

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STUDENTS´ WORK All the previously mentioned documents about the destruction of our

cultural heritage by the Turks are presented by the E`2 students. In specific students have made paintings about the destruction of the

cultural heritage of our island, at the north part, still occupied by Turkish troops.

Also, the students have made a research through the internet and they found pictures revealing the destruction of our cultural heritage.

The main values that emerge from the previously mentioned events are the following : there is no respect of our cultural heritage and civilization (there SHOULD be respect of our cultural heritage and civilization, there SHOULD be respect for different RELIGIONS)

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Since its 1974 invasion and subsequent occupation of 36,2% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey has maintained a policy of bringing in thousands of Anatolian colonists to settle in the occupied area, thus changing the demographic character of the island. Occupation, colonisation and expulsion of the local Greek Cypriot population are all part of Turkey’s long-standing expansionist policy. Turkey’s aim is to cede and assimilate the part of Cyprus it occupies and ultimately to annex it.

Turkish Colonization

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Turkish Colonisation

Turkish Cypriots a Minority in Occupied Cyprus Demographic analysis and examination of statistical data on arrivals and departures of Turkish Cypriots as well as Turks from Turkey clearly show widespread emigration of the indigenous Turkish Cypriots, who are systematically replaced by an even greater number of illegal colonists from Turkey.

According to statistical evidence, press reports and statements by Turkish Cypriot politicians, Turkish Cypriots are forced to emigrate, as a result of unemployment, economic, social and moral degradation and pressure from Turkish colonists who are given undue privileges. It is estimated that 58.000 Turkish Cypriots out of a population of 116.000 have emigrated since the invasion. The Turkish Cypriots themselves have become a minority in the occupied area, victims of the colonisation policy of Turkey and their leadership.


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Given the continuing emigration of Turkish Cypriots and the fact that the population in the occupied areas increases every year by more than the birth rate justifies, it is obvious that a large number of Anatolians are brought to and illegally settled in Cyprus, part of a well-planned scheme, the aim of which is to change the population ratio in the occupied area and the demographics of Cyprus.

Alarming Number of Turkish colonists

The policy of bringing settlers from Turkey to the occupied areas has changed demographics to such an extent that illegal settlers now outnumber the Turkish Cypriots by almost two to one. Turkish settlers are estimated at around 162.000 compared to the 88.100 Turkish Cypriots. Since 2004 alone it is estimated that more than 40.000 new settlers came to the island.


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Turkey’s colonisation policy aims at: Altering the demographic structure of Cyprus so that the Turkish-speaking population outnumbers the Greek Cypriots (Turkish Cypriots constituted 18% of the population before the Turkish invasion): In the long-term this could be used to “justify” inordinate claims of the Turkish side at the negotiating table regarding territorial arrangements and political power in a final settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Exercising control over political life in the occupied area: To this effect the colonists are given “citizenship”, Greek Cypriot properties, “voting rights”, work permits and lower wages, thereby giving rise to unemployment among Turkish Cypriots and forcing them to emigrate.

Importing cheap labour to be used especially in the construction industry: Since the submission of the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem (which was rejected by the Greek Cypriot community in the 2004 referendum) that includes an unacceptable restriction of the right to restitution of property, the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus [the so-called “TRNC”] has engaged in unprecedented construction frenzy in the occupied part of Cyprus. Low - wage settlers from Turkey are brought to the occupied area and employed in the illegal building business.


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Turkish Colonization STUDENTS´ WORK All the previously mentioned documents about the Turkish

Colonization are presented by the E`2 students. In specific students have made paintings about the Turkish

Colonization to our island, at the north part, still occupied by Turkish troops.

The main values that emerge from the previously mentioned events are the following : there is no respect of our properties and houses. We can see our houses and properties only as visitors, because Turks and Turkish cypriots stay there.

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Education

Comenius kypriako.2ppt