EP Committee hears proposals to save Cypriot cultural heritage

The European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education heard a series of proposals on Wednesday for the protection of the cultural heritage of Cyprus, at the initiative of the Committee’s Chairman Nicos Sifounakis.

The idea for Wednesday’s public hearing came after a visit of a Committee delegation to Cyprus in June 2006, during which the MEPs were informed on the situation much of Cyprus’ cultural heritage came into as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island’s northern third.

The aim of the public hearing was to show the dereliction, destruction and depredation of the historical monuments in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus and to seek ways to protect and elevate the island’s cultural heritage through the joint efforts of the two communities on the island.

The most important of the proposals was submitted by MEP of the European People’s Doris Pack, who suggested the adoption of a resolution which will call upon the German presidency of the EU to intervene so that Germany returns the cultural treasure stolen from 46 churches in the Turkish occupied areas by looter Aydin Dikman.

German historian Klaus Gallas said the implementation of a decision by the German courts was still pending regarding the return of the stolen icons, and called on the Committee to intervene in the direction of the German presidency for the repatriation of 40 crates of heirlooms currently in Munich.

Sifounakis referred to Turkey‘s responsibility, as a candidate for accession to the EU, to protect the cultural heritage of Cyprus.

US journalist Michel Jansen accused Ankara of cultural catharsis and British MP Edward O’Hara called for immediate action on behalf of the European Parliament in order to avert the transformation of monasteries in the occupied areas into hotels.

Professor Vasos Karayiorgis said there was still time to intervene in order to salvage the cultural heritage of Cyprus, and accused the University of Ankara of illegal excavations in Turkish occupied Salamis.

European People’s Party MEP Yiannakis Matsis proposed the allocation of funds to save the cultural heritage in the occupied areas. Matsis is planning to hold contacts and organise contacts concerning the destruction of the cultural heritage of Cyprus and ways to salvage it.

Austrian MEP Karin Resetarits agreed with Matsis and criticised the fact that the Turkish side was not heard at the public hearing. She furthermore said that the Turkish Cypriots were ”cultivated” and not looters.

Replying to Resetarits, Democratic Rally MEP Panayiotis Demetriou said he expected her to show some sensitivity seeing the photographs and the film presented at the hearing with the plundered churches and cemeteries.

Demetriou criticised the European Parliament for not promoting the decision to grant 500,000 euros for research into the saving of the cultural heritage in the occupied areas, and said Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn had ”done nothing” in this direction.