Pain of destruction is spark of creation, Tasoulas says at 1974 exhibition

CYP1 - 20030310 - NICOSIA, CYPRUS - A peer through the openings in the military blockade to see the Turkish occupied side of Nicosia to which Greek Cypriots have no access, seen at the bottom of the busiest shopping road in Nicosia, Ledra street. This dividing line has existed for almost 30 years, since the 20 July 1974 when Turkey invaded the island following a brief military coup. Leaders of the communities meet, 10 March 2003, in The Hague to decide on the future of Cyprus. The question is, will they decide to proceed to a referendum on whether to accept the United Nations proposed plan to solve the problem. EPA PHOTO / KATIA CHRISTODOULOU

The pain of destruction has become a spark of creation, President of the Greek parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas said on Monday, at the opening of the exhibition ‘Cyprus, 1974. Memory is the only homeland of the people’, in Athens.

The exhibition is co-organised by the Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarism and Democracy and the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus.

House President Annita Demetriou said the struggle for peace, liberation and reunification for an indivisible homeland continued, adding that the message of the exhibition was that “we do not forget, we fight”.

Demetriou outlined the prerequisites for a solution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality.

Tasoulas said the exhibition presented both the trauma of the invasion and the miracle of recovery, adding that the pain of destruction has become a spark of creation.