In an interview with CNA, Mr. Hatzidimitriou talks about the "knowledge of the truth" that was key to the harmonious work of the Commission, that with the confrontations between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in international steps, the monuments are not saved.
"The cultural dimension of the destruction is immense and priceless. A great trauma in the historical path of Cyprus", he said.
The outgoing co-chairman of the Technical Committee for Cultural Heritage, who was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by the Republic of Cyprus, considers that this is an award for the collective effort of those who have worked in harmony over the years to save the monuments. He also considers that there is no need to send any message to the members of the Commission, which "is imbued with the spirit of solidarity, sincerity and trust for the preservation of our common cultural heritage". Sotos Ktoris, he said, "who is now in charge of the Greek Cypriot passage expresses this spirit". According to Hatzidimitriou, "the success of the Technical Committee lies in the collective nature of the action. The Technical Committee is moving forward in abundance with projects and plans for over fifty monuments."
The Committee, he added, considered from the outset as cultural heritage everything that is in the memories, tradition and creative spirit of the people. Of course, he said, priority was given to the monuments of secular and religious character that are linked to the very history of Cyprus and its people.
Asked which monuments he was in awe of and which ceremonies will remain indelible in his memory, Mr. Hatzidimitriou noted the church of Panagia in Trachoni, Kythraia, saying that it was "the starting point that gave strength and momentum for the continuation of our work."
Each monument, he said, gave us a special thrill, gathering all our love and devotion from the beginning. It was not uncommon that while we were embarking on a simple maintenance project, we would find ourselves in front of wondrous works that remained unknown in the middle of walls or covered coatings, he explained, citing that in St. Augustine they discovered the Crucifixion Bound, a fresco that had remained hidden for centuries. The same, he said, happened in Archangel Michael in Lefkoniko, in Yialousa, in Aphania and most recently in Kormakitis.
Among the works of particular historical and cultural importance, Hatzimitriou mentioned Agios Epiphanios, Agios Phylon, the Holy Trinity and the Campanopetra in Salamina. "The mere fact that we were given the opportunity to proceed with conservation works in Salamanca was in itself an event of immense importance," he noted. He added the Othello Tower, "a symbol of Famagusta and universal". Symbolic significance that touched the soul of every Cypriot was the reception of the preserved Apostle Andrew, he said.
Receiving ceremonies memorable he considers those in Lefkoniko, Evretou and the Ottoman Baths in Paphos with the participation of many Turkish Cypriots.
In response to a question, Takis Hadjidemitriou said that there were cases that made it difficult for them, and even endangered the realization of conservation projects in monuments. We even learned to 'swallow' bitterness with a single thought: Superior realisation of the project over and above any other expediency," he said. However, he added, "what is certain is that we never thought of giving up in the face of difficulties . I can say that we had to say that we would persevere and let others kick us out."
The key to the harmonious work of the Commission is, according to Hatzidimitriou, "knowledge of the truth. Through our experience we have come to the conclusion that with the confrontations, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, in international steps, the monuments are not saved". "We then thought of replacing the tactics of conflicts and denunciations with the tactics of cooperation between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot experts to save the common cultural heritage. This is the experience we brought from day one to the Technical Committee and it was adopted by all its members", he said.
This is exactly the course of the Technical Committee, he added, which EUROPA NOSTRA saw and proceeded to award both its work and its example of people of different religions and languages overcoming confrontations and working together to save cultural heritage.
The President of the Republic of Cyprus awarded the Medal of Outstanding Contribution from the Republic of Cyprus to the members of the Technical Committee, the Advisory Board of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, as well as to the technicians who worked competently and conscientiously. He made special mention of the decisive role of the EU, UNDP and the UN. "The award is about this wider collective effort that gave us the strength and means to overcome insurmountable obstacles," he said.
Takis Hadjidemitriou said that he belonged to "the age group that experienced everything. The great expectations and the great trials. If I have learned anything, it is to take the messages of the times and to be able to adjust my thoughts accordingly."
Situations must be judged with realism, the difficulties must be determined objectively, but imagination and ingenuity must be used to deal with them, he added. We should take Cyprus as a whole and address all the people, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins. There are no ready-made solutions, but they can build conditions which, at the right time, can prove beneficial, and as such I count mutual understanding, mutual respect and generous initiatives. I look forward to a peaceful and multicultural Cyprus of tomorrow," he said.
Asked if there is life in the ruins, Mr. Hadjidemetriou replied that while walking through the ruins of the homeland he often reflected that we seemed unworthy of such a place with so much beauty, so much history, so much tradition and so many wondrous works of culture. "I even reflected that we had to count our losses to understand its value, its true character as revealed by its monuments. We walk through the new situations that surround us and feel the loneliness of the monuments," he said."
How do we approach them, he asked. "With awe and humility." And he concluded by asking again if we carry the concept of modesty and humility into our lives and our free lands, would we not become more right and more useful to the place.
Source: CNA
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