CULTURAL     CENTRE

OF

OCCUPIED   AMMOCHOSTOS

(FAMAGUSTA)

 

Evagorou 35, Dheryneia

          Famagusta

Tel.: (00357) 3 740860

                          740762

Fax:                  740861

 

Working Hours:

Monday to Friday

                    7.30 – 16.30

Saturday: 9.00 – 16.30 

 

The Cultural Centre of Occupied Famagusta is erected on the outskirts of Famagusta, right next to the hermetically sealed “Attila Line” which since 1974 artificially divides our island, in Dherynia.  

 This Centre operates as a viewpoint where Famagusta people come to gaze from afar, with the use of binoculars and telescopes, at their beloved and looted city turned into a Ghost Town. Various information leaflets in different languages, presentations of video films and Art Exhibitions, organized cultural and traditional events, are also offered to the visitors free of charge. 

Since 1974, Turkey continues to occupy by force 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and is systematically engaged in practices of ethnic cleansing, racial separation and racial discrimination. 

 The Cyprus problem is a clear case of massive and continuing violation of human rights by Turkey, in breach of the principles of the Charter. The General Assembly, the Security Council and the Commission of Human Rights of the U.N. as well as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and other International organizations, have many times called for the restoration of Human Rights of the population of Cyprus, in particular the Refugees. 

Turkey, in utter disregard of these resolutions has not yet withdrawn her armed forces and continues to occupy 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish invasion and continued military occupation has resulted in the collective denial of all Human Rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Cyprus, since occupation in itself constitutes a negation of all those rights.  

By her forcible uprooting of the Greek Cypriot population of Famagusta (and of the rest of our occupied areas) and by her refusal to allow them to return, by her importing settlers from Anatolia, Turkey is furthering her policy for geographical separation of the two communities and her expansionist plans.  The term “ghost town was coined by Swedish journalist Jan-Olof Bengtsson who wrote in Kvallsposten (21.09.77) “Today, September 1977, the breakfast tables are still set, the laundry still hanging and the lamps still burning. Famagusta is a ghost-town”.

 

Important points regarding the Political Question of the Town:

One would assume that in view of all these International Resolutions, the town would have been returned to its people long ago. Yet, twenty-six years after its capture, it remains a “ghost town”. The people of Famagusta, like all other Greek Cypriot refugees have a burning desire to return. It is their town. Thirty-six centuries of their history is there.

 

We invite you at the Centre to confirm yourself Turkey’s breaches and contempt for:

·        Nigh every article of the Convention and its First Protocol in full practice

·        The U.N Secretary – General’s proposal for the resettlement of Famagusta by its inhabitants under U.N. auspices

·        The High Level Agreement on 19 May 1979 that “…priority be will be given to reaching agreement of the resettlement of Varosha under U.N. auspices, implemented without awaiting the outcome of the discussion on other aspects of the Cyprus problem.

·        The Security Council Resolution 550 of 11 May 1984 that: “………………. considers any attempts to settle any part of Famagusta by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the U.N.

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