Restoration of Venetian walls marked with ceremony
THE completion of “emergency” reconstruction of parts of Lefkoşa’s historic Venetian walls was marked with a ceremony in the Ledra Palace buffer zone area on Wednesday.
The event, held in the moat below the Arabahmet district of the walled city, was organised by the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH), the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
All participants were required to observe health and safety measures in accordance with Covid-19 precautions.
The restoration work was funded by the EU and included vegetation removal between the Mula Bastion to Girne Kapısı (Kyrenia Gate); repairs of the collapsed sections of the wall between Mula Bastion and Roccas Bastion; and repairs to the collapsed part of the wall at Quirini Bastion, a UN Cyprus statement said.
Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirits of those at the ceremony who celebrated the “incredible” efforts made to fix the crumbling fortifications.
Ali Tuncay and Takis Hadjidemetriou, the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot representatives of the TCCH, gave speeches at the event.
The project lasted approximately one year and involved around “100 specialist workers” Mr Tuncay told CyprusToday.
The scheme was also important for bicommunal cooperation, Mr Tuncay and Mr Hadjidemetriou noted.
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus, Elizabeth Spehar, said in her speech that the efforts of the EU, the UNDP and the TCCH for guarding cultural heritage were admirable.
EU Head of Cooperation, Alain Joaris, pointed at the success of the project despite the ongoing pandemic and concluded that “real willpower” can always “create solutions to problems”.
Mr Tuncay said such challenges should bond Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots rather than breaking them apart.
He stressed that the success of the project was not limited to protecting historical sites but contributed to fostering a culture of trust and peace among Cypriots.
Referring to the state of the ancient walls and bastions, Mr Tuncay said that they require “continuous care” and needed to be protected from water seepage to prevent vegetation from growing back and damaging the walls again.
He called on governments to take a greater interest in the island’s cultural treasures.