CULTURAL CENTRE OF
OCCUPIED AMMOCHOSTOS
(FAMAGUSTA)
35
Evagorou Street Dheryneia
Ammochostos
(Famagusta)
Tel.:
++35723 740860
/ 740862
Fax:
740861
Email :
cultural.centre@cytanet.com.cy.
Working Hours:
Monday
to Friday:
7.30
– 16.30
Saturday:
9.30 – 16.30
The
Cultural Centre of Occupied Ammochostos (Famagusta) is on the outskirts of
Famagusta in Dheryneia , right next to the hermetically sealed “Attila
Line” which artificially divides our island. Since 1974, Turkey
continues to occupy by force 35% of the territory 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 UN Charter. The
General Assembly, the Security Council and the Commission of Human Rights
of the UN 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in utter disregard of these resolutions has not yet withdrawn her armed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 a large part of the territory 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, and her importation of tens of thousands of settlers from
Anatolia, Turkey is furthering her policy for geographical separation of
the two communities and her expansionist plans.
Important points regarding the Political Question of the Town:
In
November 1978 the British-American-Canadian Framework for a solution of
the Cyprus Problem proposed the immediate resettlement of Varoshia, the
new town of Famagusta, by its Greek Cypriot inhabitants as an act of
goodwill and progress towards a speedy and final solution of the Cyprus
problem.
In
his 1978 report to the Security Council, the UN Secretary-General
suggested: “The time may be ripe for a concrete attempt to deal with
some important aspects of the existing stalemate on the ground, thus
creating an opening for further significant steps...The status of
Famagusta, which obviously should not be kept in its present empty and
decaying condition, may provide an opportunity of the kind. Since
Famagusta is situated in the immediate vicinity of the buffer zone and is
patrolled by UNFICYP troops, it would seem natural to envisage United
Nations assistance in this connection.”
In
May 1993 the UN Secretary-General proposed a package of
confidence-building measures as a first step towards an overall
settlement. A key issue in the set of proposals was the opening of the
fenced area of Famagusta to resettlement by its original inhabitants.
On
29 June 1998 UN Security
Council adopted resolution 1178 which reaffirmed all previous resolutions,
called for the withdrawal of non-Cypriot forces, and stressed the
importance of the eventual demilitarization of the Republic of Cyprus as
an objective in the context of an overall comprehensive settlement. Since
1974, numerous resolutions have been adopted by the UN Security Council
and the UN General Assembly, calling for the return of the refugees to
their homes and properties.
One
would assume that in view of all these international resolutions, the town
would have been returned to its people long ago. Yet, so many 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 to the Centre to confirm personally Turkey’s breaches and
contempt for:
Nearly
every article of the Convention of Human Rights of the Council of Europe
and its First Protocol
The
UN secretary-general’s proposal for the resettlement of Famagusta by its
inhabitants under UN auspices
The
high level agreement on 19th May 1979 that “…priority will be given to
reaching agreement of the resettlement of Varosha under UN auspices”,
and that the agreement will be “implemented without awaiting the outcome
of the discussion on other aspects of the Cyprus problem.”
The
UN Security Council resolution 550 of 11 May 1984 that: “The Security
Council considers any attempts to settle any part of Varoshia by people
other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of
this area to the administration of the UN.
Activities
at the Centre:
Video
films on Famagusta and other occupied areas
Photographic
exhibition: “What about the Human Rights of the Kids in the Karpass
Peninsula?
Small
photographic exhibition on Famagusta
Free
printed material on the Cyprus Problem, Famagusta and the other
illegally-occupied areas of Cyprus
Small
library specializing in books on the occupied areas of Cyprus
Cyprus
Handicraft Service shop with traditional items and museum copies on sale
View-point
tours – binoculars on loan
Use
of the Centre’s facilities, Rooms and grounds by other organizations for
seminars, conferences, etc.
Free
entrance to dancing performances for the months May-October: Monday,
Tuesday, and Wednesday. For exact times please contact the Centre.
