Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (1/11)

1. In front of a large cheering crowd of Turkish and Greek Cypriots, a group of NGOs honoured 10 of their compatriots, who during times of life and death showed the courage needed together with unsurpassed humanistic morality, to save the lives of people coming from the opposite community being threatened by members of their own community. You may listen to the proceedings of the event which took place in Nicosia on the 22nd of July 2009, by watching the films uploaded to YouTube by Stelios Orphanides.
Their stories were written and communicated by journalist Sevgul Uludag – caramel_cy@yahoo.com
2.Introductory speech by Mr. Phaedon Vassiliades (organizer of the event)
3.Cengiz Ratip (1st honoured person)
Cengiz Ratip - was an MP in the Republic of Cyprus. In 1963, he put his own life at risk and went all the way from Polis to Kokkina (Erenköy) in order to save a busload of Greek Cypriot kids from Polis that had been kidnapped in retaliation for the disappearance of two Turkish Cypriots. Cengiz Ratip has been “missing” from Polis since 14th of February 1964, together with Turgut Sıtkı.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (2/11)

1.A message by Harrie Ratip (Cengiz Ratip wife), written by Sevgul Uludag.
2. Stavros Poyrazis (2nd honoured person)
Stavros Poyrazis - He was the muhtar of Strongylos (Turunchlu) and he saved the lives of Turkish Cypriots from his village back in 1963 and then twice in 1974 when some Greek Cypriot from other villages came to Strongylos (Turunchlu) in order to kill some Turkish Cypriots. Stavros Poyrazis stopped them and said, `Go back to your villages! You can’t touch the Turkish Cypriots of Strongylos!` Stavros Poyrazis is “missing” since 1974 together with four persons from his family, three from his village and eight from other villages.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (3/11)

1.The son of Stavros Poyrazis Panayiotis received the honorary plate for his father.
2.Panayiotis Poyrazis addresses the audience.
3.Alpay Topuz (3th honoured person)
Alpay Topuz from Ebiho (Abohor – Cihangir) – he was in charge of Voni prisoners camp in 1974 where around 600 Greek Cypriot prisoners of war were kept. He stopped and prevented rapes and gave help to women with children, bringing them milk and finding them toys to play... He treated prisoners with humanity.
4. Mrs Valentina Anastasiou gives the honorary plate to Mr Alpay Topuz.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (4/11)

Mrs Valentina Anastasiou recollects the hard time of her family and the sympathy of Alpay Topuz.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (5/11)

A son of a missing person, Mr. Nicos T., adverts to the personality and activity of Alpay Topuz.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (6/11)

1. Ertan Akıncıoğlu (4th honoured person)
Ertan Akıncıoğlu - a shepherd from Lapathos (Bogaziçi). He saved 8-9 Greek Cypriots mainly from Gypsou from being killed back in 1974. He also saved some other Greek Cypriots from villages around his own…
2. Christofis Poseidias (5th honoured person)
Christofis Poseidias from the village Dali, together with the help of some of his Greek Cypriot neighbours, saved the lives of Turkish Cypriot women and children from Dali from being attacked and raped by EOKA-B in 1974, hiding them in his house.
3. A T/C woman who saved by Mr. Pseidias gives him the honorary plate.
4. A message by Mr. Poseidias.
5. Thank-you speech for Mr. Poseidias by the woman he saved.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (7/11)

1.The story of Papa Kleanthis (priest) from Dromolaxia (Mormenekşe) Panagiotis Kosti Patsalou (old muhtar of Kiti - Çite) and Yorgis Mouzouros (the former muhtar of Dromolaxia - Mormenekşe) saved Turkish Cypriot men of Dromolaxia (Mormenekşe) from being executed by EOKA-B in 1974. EOKA-B had arrested all the Turkish Cypriot men of Dromolaxia (Mormenekşe) and put them on a bus and brought them to Kiti (Çite) to be executed. It was the priest and the muhtar Panayi Costi and the muhtar Mouzouros who ran to save them. 2. Mrs. Nourten Ostur gives the honorary plates to the son of Papa Kleanthis Giorgos and to the son-in-law of Yorgis Mouzouros Philippos.
3. Philippos addresses the audience. addresses the audience.
4. Giorgos Papakleanthis addresses the audience.
5. Nurten Ostur addresses the audience.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (8/11)

1. Christos Kiprianou from Lefkonico saved Ahmet Yorgancı from Çatoz (Caoz – Serdarlı) during the coup in 1974, hiding him at a friend’s house in Nicosia and during the war in 1974, Ahmet Yorgancı saved Christos Kiprianou from being killed in Çatoz (Caoz – Serdarlı).
2. Mr. Sener and Mr. G. Papadakis gives the honorary plates to the honoured persons.
3.Mr. Christos Kiprianou expresses his gratitude by addressing the audience.
4.Mr. Ahmet Yorgancı expresses his gratitude by addressing the audience.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (9/11)

1.Mr. Sener addresses the audience
2.Mr. G. Papadakis addresses the audience both in turkish and greek.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (10/11)

Camera shot of the honorary plate.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots are honoured for protecting civilians of the other community (11/11)

Event Closing

Rasit Pertev Interview

Interview with the T/C Politician Mr. Rasit Pertev

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
Program Biz Εμείς
June 18, 2008