Vandals target bicommunal event

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday condemned the vandals who slashed car tyres outside a bicommunal literary event at Nicosia’s Famagusta Gate on Monday night.
The incident, the second of its kind in the past month, saw four cars have their tyres slashed, two belonging to two Turkish Cypriots, one to a Greek Cypriot and the fourth to the Bulgarian Embassy.

Government Spokesman George Lillikas said: “Such actions do not serve our struggle, nor do they bring honour to the Republic or the morals which characterise the Cypriot people.”

He said police was investigating the incident and hoped the guilty parties would be found and prosecuted.

“We also hope that such acts are not repeated in future, as they do a disservice to our struggle,” said Lillikas.

The Cyprus Literature Union, which helped organise the evening, said it was horrified that an event, which had been dedicated to Turkish Cypriot poetry and had gone beautifully, had been spoiled by the vandals’ actions.

Political party representatives from AKEL and the United Democrats also condemned the attack, which they said sullied the Republic’s good name and was grist to the mill for the island’s critics.

Last week, British Foreign Minister Jack Straw accused the government of employing a policy of isolation against the Turkish Cypriots.

Police yesterday declined to comment on the likely motives behind the attack.
Last month, 13 cars had their tyres punctured outside the Melina Mercouri Hall in Nicosia, which was hosting a bi-communal music event organised by DISY and the Turkish Cypriot RTP, with the government coming under fire for its muted response to the attacks.