Editorial

of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which
Cyprus plans to ratify and the Convention
on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural
Contents and Artistic Expressions, in
the drafting of which Cyprus participated.
Our government’s sensitivity in relation to
heritage protection, led us to the decision
to become a candidate country for the World
Heritage Committee", he added.
"To protect what we have inherited from
the past is to preserve our culture from the
erosion of time. Unfortunately, time is not
the only obstacle we face. Indeed, heritage
must also be protected from destruction
due to armed conflicts or from illicit appropriation.
We, regrettably, have examples of
this type of deterioration in the occupied
part of Cyprus, which is not under our government’s
control."
To give an example, the Minister concen-
trated primarily on the ongoing destruction
of an important Neolithic settlement
at Cape Apostolos Andreas-Kastros
of unique historical significance, founded
in the 7th millennium BC during the Preceramic
period which is suffering irreparable
damage as a result of the use of bulldozers
by the Turkish forces.
Without making reference to other examples
of the policy of destruction, looting
and illegal excavation, the Minister appealed
to the International Community and
UNESCO in particular to send a strong
message so that the cultural and religious
heritage should be respected and protected.
"These valuable historic and cultural sites
are part of the common heritage of all the
people of Cyprus, irrespective of their community",
he concluded.
The Neolithic settlement at Apostolos Andreas, Kastros, discovered by a French archaeological mission
in 1970-74, has been levelled with cement by Turkish bulldozers.
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