On the 14th of April at the Museum of History of Sofia, opened one exclusive on its suggestion - exhibition. Called "Famagusta – The Ghost City of Europe", it was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Bulgaria,
on the initiative of H. Е. Mr. Stavros Avgustidis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the country here and under the patronage of the Mayor of Sofia - Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova. The opening was attended by the current mayor in exile of the city – Mr. Alexis Galanos.
The photos in the exhibition - 33 in numbers, are made by amateur photographers before the Turkish occupation in 1974. They show Famagusta as it was before the 45 000 Greek Cypriots were forced to leave. A city with a long history, the largest port in Cyprus, famous for its beautiful beaches and its over 300 churches, which today is located in the occupied areas of the island under the control of the Turkish army. While the Greek area Varosha is a crumbling uninhabited "ghost town" surrounded by wire and the entrance is banned. For 42 years, this "ghost town" has been awaiting the return of its legal residents who are experiencing strong nostalgia for their birthplace. According to UN resolutions, the city should be returned to its lawful inhabitants, but the international documents are not fulfilled by Turkey. The aim of the exhibition is to draw the attention of the international community and to not forget this painful Cyprus issue.
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Photos: "Diplomatic spectrum"
Above: H. Е. Mr. Stavros Avgustidis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus in Bulgaria.
