Kyrenia is my hometown in Cyprus, and was the place on the island where Turkey landed its military invasion force in 1974, following the pretext provided by a coup by the junta ruling Greece at that time.
Following the invasion, the residents of the town have been systematically ethnically cleansed by Turkey, and made refugees in their own country, as has the entire region which is still under Turkish military occupation 34 years later.
The concert featured in this video was held in London in 1990 to highlight the continuing occupation of almost half the island by Turkey. The concert was held in the evening, following a demonstration at Trafalgar Square, which I was unfortunately not able to record, to protest the continuing inaction by the British Government, which as former colonial power has retained two bases on the island, but has totally failed to live up to its obligations as a guarantor power of Cyprus' independence and sovereignty .... and furthermore, had been instrumental in allowing the transfer of the 18% of the population of the island who are Turkish Cypriots (who had previously lived scattered over the entire island) into the northern part of Cyprus occupied by the Turkish army during the 1974 invasion of the island.
This video has been uploaded in solidarity with an event taking place in Cyprus on 11th October 2008, to remind the world about Kyrenia and its continuing occupation 34 years after the invasion of the island.
See also: http://www.kyreniachoir.com.cy
The Kyrenia Liberty Ship - Video of the voyage to the Athens Olympics 2004: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=FD4594798462384B
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Details provided below are from an article about the event on 11th October, in the Cyprus Weekly Newspaper (http://www.cyprusweekly.com.cy) of 3rd October 2008.
Memories of Kyrenia at symposium
Photo exhibition and
lectures on occupied town
FORMER residents of Kyrenia will talk about their experiences and memories of the occupied town during a symposium on Saturday, October 11.
The symposium will take place at the Bank of Cyprus events hall in Ayia Paraskevi, Nicosia from 9am. There will also be a photo exhibition, with Kyrenia as its theme, at the same venue that will continue until October 17.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 8.30am-2.30pm every day, except Sundays.
The all-day symposium will hear an address by the event’s organisers - George Theofilou, Chrysanthos Chrysanthou and Petros Papapolyviou.
Addresses by Kyrenia Mayor Maria Ioannou, University of Cyprus Dean Stavros Zenios, Phileleftheros Publisher Nicos Chr. Pattichis and the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry Olympia Stylianou will follow.
Documentary
Then, a CyBC documentary entitled ‘A tour of Kyrenia will be screened.
Also on the programme are a wide range of talks, each lasting approximately 15 minutes, by experts from Kyrenia.
These will begin with a short talk on Kyrenia Castle and the cultural events organised there from 1960-1974, by archaeologist and former director of the Antiquities Department Michalis Loulloupis.
Next on the programme is a talk by ‘Kyrenia-Chrysocava’ Cultural Foundation member Glafcos Kariolou on the ancient ship of Kyrenia and its political cultural and scientific ramifications.
Then, historian and researcher Nassa Patapiou will discuss historical information on Kyrenia found in 16th century Venetian papers.
Struggles
Another historian and researcher, Ersi Demetriou, will talk about Kyrenia during the time of British rule just before the 11.15am coffee break.
Art historian Rita Severis will discuss the British community’s preference for Kyrenia from 1900-1960 followed by University of Cyprus History and Archaeology Professor Petros Papapolyviou discussing the contribution of Kyrenia residents to national struggles from the Greece-Turkey war of 18976 up until and including the Second World War.
Then, the Secretary of Kyrenia’s Bishopric Christodoulos G. Pachoullides will talk about Kyrenia Bishop Makarios Myriantheas (1917-1947) who went on to become the Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios II from 1947-1950.
Literature expert Anna Neophytou will talk about Kyrenia during the year of 1931 and University of Cyprus scientist Chrysanthos Chrysanthou will discuss the critical elections of 1943-1953.
Next on the list of speakers is Lieutenant-General Alexandros Michaelides who will talk about school cultural events in Kyrenia from 1963-1964.
Then, just before the 1.30pm lunch break, Kyrenia Municipal Councillor Tryfonas Neocleous will discuss happenings in Kyrenia from 1963-1964.
Traditions
After lunch, literature expert and researcher Theofano Hiotelli - Kypri will talk about Kyrenia traditions followed by journalist Anastasia Siakalli discussing the town’s female fashion pioneers.
Then, researcher Katerina Masourekou will talk about housing in Kyrenia during the 20th century followed by Rina Katselli, writer and researcher on the works of George Elissaiou.
Physical Education Professor and sports historian Andreas Hadjivassilou will discuss classic sports in Kyrenia followed by journalist Petros Hadjichristodoulou talking about the PAE Kyrenia basketball team from 1954-1974.
There will then be a break followed by Educational Service Commission member Nicos Orphanides talking about Kyrenia poetic value.
Then, literary expert Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou will present images of occupied Kyrenia.
CyBC producer Elena Charalambous will talk about her personal experiences of the town, followed by a talk by tour-guide and legal action pioneer Titina Loizidou, who international court made the first Cypriot to be awarded compensation from Turkey for being deprived of their land in the occupied areas.
The symposium, chaired by Paschalis Ilopoulos, will end in a discussion by approximately 6pm.
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