The Government insists on ending the actions of the illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus and has managed, under the most ominous conditions, to renew the international interest on the Cyprus issue with the aim to resume the peace talks, President Nikos Christodoulides said Friday.
In an address read by Justice Minister at a scientific symposium in Nicosia, the President noted that 50 years after the Turkish invasion, we are still making efforts to handle the consequences of our country’s occupation which include the looting and destruction of our cultural heritage in the occupied territories. He described this as an unprecedented crime against the world’s cultural and religious heritage.
Referring to the works of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH), the President said that since 2008 the committee has brought excellent results, as more than 140 monuments have been preserved throughout Cyprus, 70 are under preservation and 40 have already digitized for research and educational purposes.
The
President also referred to the activities of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos at the World Forum of Religions and Cultures, pointing out that it contributes catalytically to the promotion of culture and cultural heritage as a bridge of communication and cooperation between peoples.
As he pointed out, the work by the Monastery, resulted in the identification and rescue of religious monuments and ecclesiastical relics in Cyprus and abroad.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency