Editorial

88
Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis came to
Cyprus last October for a series of events honouring
his 80th birthday.
Theodorakis was decorated by President Tassos
Papadopoulos with the Grand Cross of
the Order of Makarios III for his contribution
to music, the arts and culture and his participation
in the struggle for world peace
and democracy.
Presenting the honour to Theodorakis, the
President said that "there is no limit to the
boundaries of the music and the power of
poetry that go beyond space and time, giving
human life a special dimension and a new perspective".
An emotional Theodorakis asked
the President for permission to add in his CV
from now on that he is not only a Greek
and a Cretan but also a Cypriot. He also sent
a message of unity to the Turkish Cypriots,
expressing the hope that a settlement would
be reached soon.
The President of the House of Representatives
and AKEL (Communist Party) leader,
Demetris Christofias received Theodorakis
and extolled his role as "international citizen,
struggling for world peace, and brotherhood
among people". Describing his gigantic
contribution to humanity as a composer,
Christofias said that during his visit on the
island, Theodorakis was going to "open his
huge wings, as he did in 1975 when he embraced
the refugees and took into his arms Cyprus,
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots".
Theodorakis was also honoured by the National
Guard and Defence Minister, Kyriakos
Mavronicolas, was pronounced an honorary
citizen of Nicosia by Mayor Michalakis Zam-
Mikis Theodorakis Honoured
President Tassos Papadopoulos presenting the
distinction to composer Mikis Theodorakis.
belas and was given the Golden Key to the
city.
The highlight of his visit was a massive concert
held in old Nicosia d’Avila Moat with the
participation of the Choir and Orchestra of
the Moscow New Opera Theatre and the Mikis
Theodorakis Orchestra. George Dalaras, Maria
Farantouri and Petros Pandis also sang in celebration
of the music veteran’s many decades
of creativity. The programme included
songs of resistance and music expressing the
suffering of the oppressed as well as songs taken
from the everyday struggle for survival of
the poor in Greece, Cyprus and elsewhere.
In his address before the concert in his honour,
Theodorakis remembered that immedi-