Evretou Mosque conservation project completed
CNA – PAPHOS 2/3/2015 09:34
The completion of conservation works of the Evretou Mosque was celebrated on Sunday morning in an event hosted by the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme Partnership for the Future (UNDP-PFF).
Tens of Turkish Cypriots former residents of the village were among those who attended the event.
In statements, the Greek Cypriot member of the Technical Committee Takis Hadjidemetriou said that Evretou was chosen because “it is a village with a history and tradition, with a contribution to the agriculture and the economy of the region and with beautiful buildings. Its abandonment created feelings of melancholy and sorrow and that is why we want to revive hope.”
The people visiting the mosque are Evretou residents and its restoration will make them feel that there is a prospect for the future of the village and Cyprus as a whole.
Hadjidemetriou further noted that soon the conservation works for the Kato Paphos Baths will be celebrated, adding that the programme for 2015 and 2016 is very extensive.
Replying to a question, he said that restoration work on the Apostolos Andreas Monastery in occupied Karpas is going very well. The first phase of the work, estimated at €2,220,000 is estimated to be completed by April 2016, he added.
On his part the Turkish Cypriot member of the Technical Committee Ali Tuncay wished that soon the Evretou School will be restored.
Referring to the conservation work of the Evretou Mosque, he expressed his happiness that the Committee was able to conserve the religious monument after 40 years. It is very important for us because the people who lived here had beautiful memories from this region, he pointed out.
Evretou Mosque was built at the beginning of the XX century on the main road of a small village located in the Paphos district. It has been selected as part of the priority intervention emergency projects of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage.
Conservation works focused on cleaning of the site including removal of vegetation, excavation for the purposes of natural drainage and prevention of further erosion of the external stonewall, repair to windows and the entire reconstruction of the roof.
The project also included repairs to internal and external walls, strengthening of structure with metal rods, restoration of stonework, rebuilding and sealing of joints, flooring and painting of the internal wooden roof.
The cost of the project was of approx. €82,000 (including works, designs and supervision costs), fully funded by the EU.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Efforts through dialogue to reunite the country have so far failed, due to Turkish intransigence.