The president of Melathron Ecumenical Hellenism, Stavros Panousopoulos, paid a visit and did an autopsy in Famagusta on the 16th of October 2019 with the help of the great benefactor, aggregator and indigenous Toni Toumazi.
The president saw the ghost town, Famagusta, with his own eyes, 45 years after the Turkish invasion, standing abandoned and frozen in time. Hotels, restaurants, and homes, of many storeys and innovative at the time, are being ruined. The narrations of Mr. Toumazis referred to the life of Greek-Cypriots – including his own family – in Famagusta, before the invasion, which was characterised by prosperity, liveliness and joy. Mr. Toumazis also mentioned a staggering, personal story, which moves and enrages, to Mr. Panousopoulos. Mr. Toumazi’s father had planted a cypress when he was born. This cypress is standing there to this day, as a sad reminder of the persecution of its owners.
The visit of the president of Melathron Ecumenical Hellenism was nothing but certain at this juncture. Only two months prior to his visit, in August 2019, the enclosed city of Famagusta opened for about 40 Turkish and Turkish – Cypriot journalists, following an invitation by the “Minister of Foreign Affairs” of the “pseudo-state” Kudret Ozersay, who actually will not stop repeating lately that “they will come again in Varosha, the celebrated of the world and it will come to life”.
The president of Melathron Ecumenical Hellenism was moved not only by the image of abandonment of Famagusta but also by the descriptions of Mr. Toumazis about the glory the place once possessed. He promised himself, that same day, and the audience attending the event in Pattihio Municipal Theater of Limassol, a bit later, that the next chapter of the occupation of the foundation will be Famagusta. It consists an imperative need, as he professed, the drama of the area of Famagusta be highlighted throughout the world. Melahtron Ecumenical Hellenism is standing by the side of the Cypriot Hellenism in the tragic issue of Famagusta, which is still bleeding…
E.N.: While these lines were written, the prime minister of the “pseudo-state”, Ersin Tatar, was stating that his goal is the reaming of Famagusta until the end of 2020.
