The past 32 years

The people of Famagusta left their homes on the morning of the 14th of August 1974. Ever since, their determination to return home has become synonymous to their own survival. During the past 32 years there have been endless political discussions, rounds of tradeoff negotiations and many efforts to return the city of Famagusta to its lawful owners. Much ink has also been spilt on the Anan Plan and its provision that the city be returned to its lawful citizens 100 days after the mutual acceptance of the Plan. However, the Plan was rejected by the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriot people and is now considered History.

During all these years, women marches have been organised, the first of these dating from 1976 in the presence of the unforgettable Melina Mercouri. Many other events were organised throughout the years. The Famagusta Refugee Movement, the Famagusta Committee and other similar initiatives have all tried to mobilize resources and expose the problem of Famagusta to the wider public and particularly to international forums and institutions, on the basis of international law, human rights and the numerous U.N Resolutions on the Cyprus Question.

The Famagusta Committee -Famagusta Refugee Movement

The Committee of Famagusta was created in 1988 by a group of Famagustians that decided to organise an exhibition destined to expose to the world community the fabulous historical legacy of the city. The exhibition ‘Famagusta, 36 centuries of civilization, 1600B.C – 1974 A.D traveled first to Rhodes to coincide with a European Council summit, then to London, Washington D.C, Moscow and Hamburg. The inestimable objects put on display were taken form the Archaeological Museum of Nicosia and were coupled by extensive documentation on the rich historical legacy of the city, its ancient glory through to Byzantine and Frankish rule and the devastating Ottoman conquest of the city in 1571. It was the first time that photographs of the enclosed city of Famagusta as well as the destruction, damage and looting of religious monuments were shown to the international community.

	The poster of the Famagusta exhibition
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in Hannover, 1991
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in Hannover, 1991
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in Washigton D.C, 1990
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in Washigton D.C, 1990	Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in London, 1990
	Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in Moscow, 1990
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in Rhodes, 1988
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in London, 1990
Exhibition Famagusta 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600 B.C-1974 A. D in London, 1990