Nicosia:Deputy Minister of Culture, Klea Hadjistefanou Papaellina, highlighted the state's support in preserving the cultural heritage and collective memory of Turkish-occupied areas. Her remarks were made during a press conference organized by the Union of Occupied Municipalities and Communities in Nicosia, focusing on the upcoming event "Memories of Occupied Land," scheduled for November 12 and 13 in Paphos.

According to Cyprus News Agency, Papaellina detailed two major initiatives from the Deputy Ministry of Culture designed to aid Turkish-occupied municipalities and communities. She introduced the "NOSTOS" grant scheme, which has a budget of £100,000, aimed at funding documentation of oral and historical testimonies, preserving archives, and promoting traditions and customs. The program specifically targets capturing the memories of those who lived in the Turkish-occupied towns and villages prior to 1974.

Additionally, Papaellina described the Support Program for Periodical Publications, which provides financial backing for local print media and magazines. This initiative supports the preservation of photographic material, experiences, and historical documents, serving to educate younger generations about the past.

Emphasizing the importance of these efforts, Papaellina stated that preserving memory is an ongoing institutional duty, noting that the occupation, 52 years after the Turkish invasion, remains a significant issue. She described the protection of cultural heritage as both an act of resistance against forgetting and a part of the broader effort to resolve the occupation, ensure the right of return, and reunite Cyprus.

She urged the public, particularly educational institutions, to attend the "Memories of Occupied Land" exhibition. Cyprus has remained divided since Turkey's 1974 invasion and occupation of its northern third, with numerous UN-led negotiations failing to achieve a resolution, the most recent being in July 2017 at the Crans-Montana summit in Switzerland.