Cyprus-Forum.com

[Tim Drayton]

It might be worth trying to co-ordinate this initiative with the work of the Technical Committee for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, a bi-communal organisation that is restoring damaged cultural heritage in both parts of the island.

See:

http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=26824

[Paphitis]

Paphitis , you are forgetting that your thread was at 5.28am here in the UK and 7.28 in Cyprus.Far to early .
My contribution is assured .

I knew I could count on you Miltiades and I thank you very much.

You are a True Cypriot, that's for sure!

I also thank Umit for his very generous donation. I will reply to your PM soon.

[denizaksulu]

It might be worth trying to co-ordinate this initiative with the work of the Technical Committee for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, a bi-communal organisation that is restoring damaged cultural heritage in both parts of the island.

See:

http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=26824

This is something to bear in mind. Its a pity that some people care more about the restoration of old graves than others. I realise that newer graves are a different matter altogether.

[Tim Drayton]

The old Turkish Cypriot cemetry on 3rd Street, Polemidia in Limassol desperately needs (and deserves) attention.

[Get Real!]

What’s this all about? Paphitis, playing the mother Teresa?

[Paphitis]

I read this last night Paphitis and I immediately started to post to donate and then did not submit, thinking it may need mulling over.

There is nothing to mull over.

Either you wish to help, or you do not. It is up to you really.

I am still happy to donate, but because it is a recent grave and as Deniz has now pointed out, family are still alive, I think this may seem callous (as well-intentioned as I know is this gesture) in view of the fact that they would have repaired it if they so wished.

I am almost 100% certain that Aydin's grave was randomly attacked and vandalized. I say that, because I don't believe that the stone memorial could be in such a state even after 35 years of neglect.

I am also of the view that the family would love to repair Aydin's memorial, but have not done so probably because they might believe that the memorial might be randomly attacked and vandalized once again, and hence consider it futile. This could suggest that the family might not have so much faith in GCs for a variety of reasons, and some of these reasons could be very valid. So in the interest of good intercommunal relations and a united Cyprus, we could and should restore this families faith once again.

I only say the above because I think I might understand the psyche of the family and why they have not repaired the memorial themselves. My partner has some family members buried in occupied Cyprus, and I know that her family would sincerely love to repair the desecrated grave sites of their loved ones, but have not done so because they sincerely believe the graves will be destroyed once again.

If it was vandals who did this, and not a consequence of bombs and war collateral, then perhaps they would strike again. The thought of people deliberately destroying something which signifies a life, a last reminder, is tantamount to attacking the weakest, the most helpless. Helplessness taken advantage of, fills me with horror. Such misguided opportunists roaming the streets vending frustration or anger purely by physical destruction annoys me no end. It is to the prevention of such conduct that we should be donating; and so perhaps we need to think further afield ...

Well I don't want to speculate how this particular grave is in the state it is. Anything is possible, although I believe that the grave was randomly attacked and vandalized.

We can never be sure that it won't happen again. But that's not really important. What is important is the fact that we have repaired this memorial as a gesture of altruistic goodwill towards your compatriots and and touched another family's heart.

Maybe others are mulling over consequences and precedents. But a general fund to help end such destruction, island-wide, may be more sensitive?

If it makes you feel better, then this initiative can be coordinated through the Technical Committee for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, under the proviso that the monies raised by us go towards the repair or Aydin's memorial.

So please reconsider.



I am certain that the particular person will be right behind this initiative, at least in spirit.

[Paphitis]

It might be worth trying to co-ordinate this initiative with the work of the Technical Committee for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus, a bi-communal organisation that is restoring damaged cultural heritage in both parts of the island.

See:

http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=26824

Thank you very much Tim.

There is no reason why this initiative can't be coordinated through the Technical Committee for the Preservation, Physical Protection and Restoration of the Immovable Cultural Heritage of Cyprus.

[Paphitis]

What’s this all about? Paphitis, playing the mother Teresa?

Sometimes you need to put your money where your mouth is and do something for the greater good.

I now I can count on your support as well, since you vehemently fight for Cyprus and have many TC friends. I don't think you are just all talk and no action or a "half baked Cypriot", which is why I am expecting your imminent generosity...

[denizaksulu]

What’s this all about? Paphitis, playing the mother Teresa?

Sometimes you need to put your money where your mouth is and do something for the greater good.

I now I can count on your support as well, since you vehemently fight for Cyprus and have many TC friends. I don't think you are just all talk and no action or a "half baked Cypriot", which is why I am expecting your imminent generosity...

I think it prudent to wait for Miltiades' return to the forum. He lives almost next door to Aydin Elder brother. Their wishes also need to be respected.

Paphitis, I do respect your sincerity in this matter; however I also propose we carry on with the donations provideed that a suitable 'grave' be restored of a GC lady in recognition that both sides have had problems with vandalism.

What do you say.

I must add that the only point of my posting the photograph (supplied by our roving journalist Halil) was to show that both sides have had their desecrations.

[Paphitis]

Deniz wrote:

I think it prudent to wait for Miltiades' return to the forum. He lives almost next door to Aydin Elder brother. Their wishes also need to be respected.

I was just about to suggest the same thing Deniz!

Obviously, if the family have some objections, then we will respect their wishes.

Deniz wrote:

Paphitis, I do respect your sincerity in this matter; however I also propose we carry on with the donations provideed that a suitable 'grave' be restored of a GC lady in recognition that both sides have had problems with vandalism.

What do you say.

I am all for the TCs starting their own initiative and agree with you all the way on this. However, this would be a matter for the TC members of this forum to decide.

If the TCs decide not to initiate such a noble act, then I can hardly blame them at all, judging by the response to this thread.