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Divided Cypriots unite over heritage
FAMAGUSTA, Cyprus, Dec 17, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Residents from both sides of
Cyprus are coming together to restore their ancient heritage and mend ties
away from politics even as peace talks remain stalled.
Over the past decade Greek and Turkish Cypriots have joined forces to
rebuild and restore dozens of churches, mosques and historical monuments on
the Mediterranean island, after they were damaged by conflict or neglect.
“We are cooperating, we are working together and we are bringing new hope
to the people living on this island for a better future,” said Turkish
Cypriot Ali Tuncay, who sits on a bi-communal body that oversees the work.
“Some of our friends are saying that we are a mini-model for the future of
Cyprus,” added the member of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage.
John Karis, the Greek Cypriot secretary of the committee, agreed.
He said the project was “vital” because it brings people together.
Alongside “restoring the buildings, we also restore our history”, he said.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied
the northern third of the island in response to an Athens-engineered military
coup, after a decade of intercommunal tension and violence between the Greek
majority and the Turkish minority.
The last talks to reunify the island collapsed last year.
A 12-member team oversees the conservation project that was launched in
2008, sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Six were picked by the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus, and
the other six by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an entity still
only recognised by Ankara.
– Church and Tanners’ mosque –
“This is a tangible example of the important role cultural heritage can
play in reinforcing a shared identity and contributing to peace and
confidence building,” said Tiziana Zennaro, who heads the UNDP’s Cyprus
office.
Zennaro spoke this week during a presentation on ruins that have been
restored on both sides of a UN-patrolled buffer zone which slices through
Cyprus, and conservation work that is still underway.
The city of Famagusta — which boasts an ancient walled city and
breathtaking medieval ruins, abutting the buffer zone in north Cyprus — is
at the heart of the joint restoration initiative.
Landmarks in old Famagusta — including Saint Anne’s Church and Tanners’
mosque — have had a makeover.
Historians believe the church was built in the 4th century as part of a
monastic complex, initially for the Catholic order before being given to the
Maronite sect in the 14th century.
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A peek through the metal barriers surrounding the construction reveal the
freshly painted wooden frames of stained glass windows boasting French Gothic
designs.
Tanners’ mosque, named after tanners who worked nearby, lies across the
street and was originally a small church, before the Ottomans laid siege to
Famagusta.
Tanners reputedly went there to avoid going to larger mosques where they
feared the smell that stuck to their skin and clothes would offend other
worshippers.
– ‘Hatred is my only enemy’ –
Famagusta’s “Land Gate” — the walled city’s main entrance — and the
towering Ravelin Bastion that protected it from attack have also been
restored.
The bastion was originally built into natural rock by the Lusignans, before
being fortified by the Venetians and later modified by the Ottomans. It
reopened in June.
“This project… creates communication and communication means
understanding each other,” said Turkish Cypriot poet and Famagusta resident
Ruhsan Iskifoglu.
A mosque in Deneia, inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone, is also being
restored.
Residents say it was originally built using stones from a church that was
destroyed in 1571 during an Ottoman military campaign.
Traces of an Islamic mural can be seen on a wall in the one-room house of
worship, while on another wall hangs a frame inscribed with the words “Hatred
is my only enemy” — the words of the Turkish poet Yunus Emre.
Christakis Panayiotou, who heads Deneia council, is proud of the
conservation work and the cooperation that gave rise to it.
“The most important thing… is to be able to show and to tell the world
that we Greek Cypriots and Turk Cypriots must live together.”
For Meltem Onurkan Samani — a political advisor to northern Cyprus’
president Mustafa Akinci — the restorations seek to heal “historical
wounds”.
The EU has so far provided 14.7 million euros ($13 million) for the
project, while funds have also come from local associations and NGOs.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0819 hrs