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George Eugeniou, right, Chris Sekkides and Peter Droussiotis raise the flag |
Fight goes on: Cypriots’ campaign isn’t flagging
EVERY year for almost 30 years Mornington Crescent theatre owner George Eugeniou has raised the flag of Cyprus to remember two “black days” in his home nation’s history.
Cyprus Week, now in its 35th year, is the British Cypriot community’s way of reminding the world of the week their land was invaded by Turkey in 1974 following an attempted coup by Greek Cypriot nationalists.
More than a third of the country and its one million population now live under occupation.
Mr Eugeniou, 78, who runs Theatro Technis in Crowndale Road and has been involved in Cyprus Week since it started, said the festival was initially organised as a response to prejudice in Britain but became a symbol of resentment after the invasion.
“Every year we have this festival to voice our resentment against the occupation of one third of the island by Turkey – they have committed a crime and should be brought before the International Court of Justice,” he said at Monday’s flag-raising event.
Mr Eugeniou and friends of the theatre were joined by Peter Droussiotis, president of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, an umbrella group that represents more than 100 campaign organisations. Cyprus Week continues until Sunday, when an anti-occupation rally takes place at Trafalgar Square. |
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Your comments:
There is no "Northern Cyprus" and there never will be! The Turkish occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus is a tragedy that needs to be resolved. It is good to see an article about a region that represents a grave injustice to international law and order be featured in this publication. There is a good reason why the Turkish occupied area is almost devoid of tourists and that is because this land has been ethnically cleansed of the Greek Cypriots who lived there prior to the Turkish invasion in July of 1974. This invasion resulted in widespread rape, murder and looting by the Turkish army and Turkish Cypriots. No tourist with any sense of morality should step foot in this occupied area which represents a crime against humanity by Turkey. Good people of the world can make a difference by boycotting tourism until the Turkish occupation regime is dismantled and Turkish occupation troops and illegal settlers leave Cyprus!
M. Drake
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