A divided city celebrates Europe Day

Cyprus celebrated on Saturday Europe Day, the Unity of Europe,

but its capital, Nicosia, is the last divided capital in the world

The poster promoting Europe Day events in Nicosia

Europe Day focused this year on the EP elections, but the main event in Nicosia included dancing, music, singing and the distribution of information leaflets about Europe and the EP.

Addressing the event, Cypriot EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said «we are here, the only EU divided city and that is unacceptable”.

It is indeed strange and unacceptable, celebrating Europe Day, celebrating the unity of Europe in a divided European capital

 

 

Barbed wire dividing Nicosia (photo by Jean - Frederic Courtois)

Nicosia is a European capital, half of which is under Turkish military occupation

Some days ago, me and a friend of mine, walked around the UN buffer zone in Nicosia and took some photographs of the area.

 The Ledra Palace checkpoint/crossing point  (photo by Jean - Frederic Courtois)

Here is Nicosia’s story, taken by the Nicosia Municipality website

• “In 1960 Nicosia becomes the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, whose constitution is based on the co-operation of the island’s two communities, Greek and Turkish, in a ratio of seven to three . Greek Cypriots make up about 80% of the island’s population and Turkish Cypriots 18%. The remaining 2% are Latins, Armenians and Maronites who at the time of independence opted to belong to the Greek Cypriot community.

One of the many abandoned houses at the UN buffer zone (photo by Jean - Frederic Courtois)

• In December 1963, in the aftermath of a constitutional crisis, skirmishes broke out between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. Nicosia was divided into Turkish and Greek quarters. The dividing line, which cuts through the city, was named Green because the pen used by the UN officer to draw the line on a city map was green.

Entering the UN buffer zone at Ledra Palace (photo by Jean - Frederic  Courtois)

• A coup d’ Etat on the 15 th July 1974 against the lawful Cypriot government provided a pretext for Turkey to invade the island on 20th July and promote its expansionist plans.

• Ankara attempted to present the invasion as a so called peaceful operation aiming at restoring constitutional order and protecting the Turkish Cypriot community. However, even after the restoration of constitutional order and the return of President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III to Nicosia in December 1974, the Turkish troops remained on the island promoting Turkey’s plans against Cyprus.

UN buffer zone (photo by Jean - Frederic Courtois)

• On 14th August 1974, the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus began which led to the partition of Cyprus.

The tragic consequences are:

(a) 37% of Cypriot territory is under occupation despite repeated UN and other International Resolutions for the respect of independence and territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.

Barbed wire on the way to the Turkish checkpoint (photo by Jean - Frederic Courtois)

(b) Five thousand Greek Cypriots were killed, 180,000 lost their homes and became displaced and 1619 are still missing.

Entering the occupied side of Nicosia, where the  Turkish regime has proclaimed a state, recognised only by Ankara (photo by Jean - Frederic Courtois)

• Since 1974 the people of Cyprus have been experiencing the tragedy of a divided country, with the Green Line cutting in two the heart of the capital city Nicosia and crushing the dreams of its inhabitants”

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