Common future based on cultural respect, say heritage award winners

By Evie Andreou

THE two co-chairs of the bi-communal committee on cultural heritage Takis Hadjidemetriou and Ali Tuncay received the 2015 European Citizen award on Friday for their team’s contribution in preserving and restoring cultural monuments throughout the island.

The two men received the award by AKEL MEPs Takis Hadjigeorgiou and Neoklis Sylikiotis, at a ceremony organised by the European Parliament Office in Nicosia.

Hadjidemetriou and Tuncay are among the 47 award recipients from all member states chosen by the European Parliament and they are to attend a special ceremony in Brussels.

The committee on cultural heritage is the most popular of all the joint committees as it has restored, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), several monuments of great cultural importance in Cyprus. Among their projects are the Apostolos Andreas monastery in Karpasia and the Othello Tower in Famagusta.

“Culture and mutual respect for everything we have in common, as well as everything that differentiates us comprises the most stable basis upon which we will be able to build our common future,” Hadjidemetriou said in his acceptance speech.

He wished all Cypriots to share the message the technical committee wants to convey with its work and expressed hope that Cyprus will turn into a peaceful place.

Co-chair Tuncay said that culture should not work as an agent for division, but for reconciliation.

Both the Apostolos Andreas monastery, as well as the Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, belong to everyone, Tuncay said and added that “it is our duty to protect monuments for future generations”.

He thanked the two leaders, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci, for supporting the committee’s work and wished that all impediments in the preservation of cultural heritage to be lifted soon.
Andreas Kettis of the EP Office, said that this year’s winners do not just contribute towards preserving Cyprus’ cultural heritage, but enrich multiculturalism in the EU.

Also present at the award ceremony were House speaker Yiannakis Omirou, former Presidents George Vassiliou and Demetris Christofias and the former EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, party representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps.

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