ST HILARION CASTLE IS SAD AND TEARFUL
KIBRIS columnist Akay Cemal wrote on Monday, May 31, about the cancellation of the Cercle music performance, that had been due to take place at St Hilarion Castle, due to Greek Cypriot threats:
Historic St Hilarion Castle would have been the venue for an international event today. Young people especially were excitedly waiting and looking forward to the concert that the world famous Danish musician DJ Kölsch was to give with the “Cercle” team. But it did not happen. The Greek Cypriot lobby stepped in and made threats so the organisers had to cancel their programme. DJ Kölsch announced that he had to cancel the concert because he did not feel safe after the Greek Cypriot protests and threats. “I have been flooded with hostile messages,” said Kölsch.
So much preparation and work was wasted and those who caused it jumped for joy. They did it. Now they are rubbing their hands together and raising a glass saying, “Cheers”.
The Cercle team stated that their aim is to bring the cultures and artists from various parts of the world to the people through performances and videos, and that their goal is to bring people together and not to divide societies with the events they organise.
The Cercle team explained it so well . . . The aim of their events is to bring people together and not to divide societies . . . So could they, from an EU member country just like South Cyprus, explain this to the people living in the North of the island? Even if they could, the other side would not understand. They only understand the socalled “bicommunal events” that serve their “cause”. Due to the pandemic they have become outdated but that’s a separate issue! Although the team clearly stated their purpose and explained that they have no other objective other than to bring people together and not to divide societies, it is still not good enough for the Greek Cypriots. We thought that the Greek Cypriot Administration wanted to come together and criticise the division. So all of these words are fake! Their only wish is to be able to dominate the North, to oppose and prevent even the smallest event promoting North Cyprus and to hide the presence of the Turkish people in the North of the island from the world.
If this incident isn’t an embargo against a music event then what is it? Even if you ask “Where are human rights, where is international law?” against the music embargo, will anyone hear you? If they did, they would hear the cries of those who lament under the inhumane and disgraceful embargoes that have been imposed on these people for so many years by the UN, EU and past and present Greek Cypriot governments.
Which suffering people’s voice have they heard until now? Making a statement on the subject, Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu said:
“This event . . was blocked by outdated minds on the other side of our border . . . who do not want to share human values.
“This disappointment, which is inflicted on our young people, does not lead to anything other than permanence of the wall which has been built by the Greek Cypriots for years between the two sides in Cyprus”.
Minister Ataoğlu summarised the situation very politely. He emphasised that the unification of culture and art is an undeniable fact in our world where the invisible walls between countries and people are getting higher due to Covid-19 conditions.
So, can they tolerate even promoting a stone in North Cyprus, the mention of a Turkish name, the use of the word “Turk”, or mentioning the North of this island? We have to look at it this way . . . Cyprus has a truth that nobody can deny. The people of this island are not only Greek Cypriots. It is also the homeland of Turks who have a right to live here. We have no designs on anyone else’s land.
As was emphasised to the Greek Cypriot leader in New York at the time and the other day, the UN Secretary-General gleefully said “It’s over” when the Founding TRNC President Rauf Denktaş wrote “29% +” [territory] on a piece of paper and handed it to him.
If they could not even accept that, how were they going to put up with the sight of St. Hilarion Castle being promoted for a concert? This incident, occurring during the pandemic period, should be informed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres by President Ersin Tatar or Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu.
In a nutshell, St Hilarion Castle is sad and tearful today. One touch and it won’t be able to hold back its tears. However, we can call this a kind of a lesson. In some cases, especially international events, should not be announced with such fanfare! Otherwise, those who hear the sound of drums and horns will dance with joy, while the rest will have to be content to just watch.