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.