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ARMENIAN QUARTER RENOVATIONS IN TURKISH-OCCUPIED NICOSIA IN FULL SWING
EXPECTED TIME OF COMPLETION OF PROJECT, FUNDED BY USAID IS IN 12 MONTHS
http://1in.am/eng/world_more_125.html
The restoration is a Development Programme funded by USA and the UN
Development Programme and executed by the United Nations Office for
Project Services
Simon Aynedjian - Gibrahayer e-magazine Thursday 13 January 2011 -
The renovations of the Armenian quarter in Turkish-occupied Niosia
are in full swing and this ambitious project - that includes all of
the Armenian quarter in Turkish-occupied Nicosia - has got a delivery
date of 12 months, according to project staff who guided us through
the renovation sites of what was the heart of the Armenian community
of Nicosia decades ago.
All buildings that are in the complex are receiving the face-lift
they deserve. Our evaluation is that it is much more than that.
Buildings that were left to the mercy of natural decay, to settlers
who were living in the school complexes and the deliberate vandalism
that our places of worship had been subjected to, are undergoing a
fundamental "back to the past" treatment, which together with its
completion will perhaps bring back memories of how our community
remembers its home.
Unfortunately after almost 50 years of deprivation of our properties -
since the inter-communal fightings of 1963 and the subsequent invasion
by Turkey in 1974 - most of the older generation are no longer with
us to witness the revival of Armenian quarter. Most of them left this
world without seeing its decay. Perhaps a blessing.
When on 2 December, 2008 the Armenian community of Cyprus was being
briefed by a team of Italian architects about the restoration plan,
perhaps very few believed that this would be materialised. Our
community and the Cypriot people have no reasons to believe otherwise.
But there.
What we witnessed told a different story.
The kindergarten completely renovated, the two school buildings
being painted, The Armenian Prelature restored and receiving a final
touch-up, while the Armenian Church Sourp Asdvadzadzin receiving the
most delicate and detailed treatment of them all. With the bell tower
restored, a team of eight masked Turkish Cypriots were working like
bees on the inner walls of the Church. The massive smoke and dust
that was coming out of the windows and the doors of the Church could
have fooled anyone that the Church was being bombed !
Hardly...
The Turkish Cypriot head of the construction assured us that the
project was on schedule and invited us for coffee.
You can view more images of the restoration process at the following
link: www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091449&id=1543460178&l=42722f9f3f
From: A. Papazian
EXPECTED TIME OF COMPLETION OF PROJECT, FUNDED BY USAID IS IN 12 MONTHS
http://1in.am/eng/world_more_125.html
The restoration is a Development Programme funded by USA and the UN
Development Programme and executed by the United Nations Office for
Project Services
Simon Aynedjian - Gibrahayer e-magazine Thursday 13 January 2011 -
The renovations of the Armenian quarter in Turkish-occupied Niosia
are in full swing and this ambitious project - that includes all of
the Armenian quarter in Turkish-occupied Nicosia - has got a delivery
date of 12 months, according to project staff who guided us through
the renovation sites of what was the heart of the Armenian community
of Nicosia decades ago.
All buildings that are in the complex are receiving the face-lift
they deserve. Our evaluation is that it is much more than that.
Buildings that were left to the mercy of natural decay, to settlers
who were living in the school complexes and the deliberate vandalism
that our places of worship had been subjected to, are undergoing a
fundamental "back to the past" treatment, which together with its
completion will perhaps bring back memories of how our community
remembers its home.
Unfortunately after almost 50 years of deprivation of our properties -
since the inter-communal fightings of 1963 and the subsequent invasion
by Turkey in 1974 - most of the older generation are no longer with
us to witness the revival of Armenian quarter. Most of them left this
world without seeing its decay. Perhaps a blessing.
When on 2 December, 2008 the Armenian community of Cyprus was being
briefed by a team of Italian architects about the restoration plan,
perhaps very few believed that this would be materialised. Our
community and the Cypriot people have no reasons to believe otherwise.
But there.
What we witnessed told a different story.
The kindergarten completely renovated, the two school buildings
being painted, The Armenian Prelature restored and receiving a final
touch-up, while the Armenian Church Sourp Asdvadzadzin receiving the
most delicate and detailed treatment of them all. With the bell tower
restored, a team of eight masked Turkish Cypriots were working like
bees on the inner walls of the Church. The massive smoke and dust
that was coming out of the windows and the doors of the Church could
have fooled anyone that the Church was being bombed !
Hardly...
The Turkish Cypriot head of the construction assured us that the
project was on schedule and invited us for coffee.
You can view more images of the restoration process at the following
link: www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2091449&id=1543460178&l=42722f9f3f
From: A. Papazian