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#ARMENIANGENOCIDE: CYPRUS MARKS ANNIVERSARY WITH ORPHANAGE STAMP
02 April, 2015
The postal services of Cyprus and Armenia jointly launched a
commemorative stamp on Thursday to mark the 100th anniversary of the
genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks.
________________________________
Symbolically, the pair of stamps with identical designs, depict the
Melkonian school in Nicosia that originated as an orphanage in 1926
to shelter some 500 young survivors of the massacres.
The Cyprus Post stamp, with a value of 64 cents, shows the historic
school buildings with cypress saplings planted by the first orphans,
that have since blossomed and are as tall as nearby buildings along
the main arterial Limassol Avenue. The Haypost stamp, with a value of
350 dram, shows a historical photograph of the first group of orphans
in uniforms and lined up with the school band.
The visiting President of the Armenian Assembly was greeted by
Communications and Works Minister Marios Demetriades, who said in
his speech that it was "a great honour to welcome Galoust Sahakyan
on behalf of the Cyprus government at the ceremony in remembrance of
the 1.5 mln Armenians that perished in 1915. The international must
not allow for such a crime to be committed again."
He said that the joint stamp launch and the first day of issue marked
the level of "solidarity of our two nations," adding that the Armenians
of Cyprus are an integral part of the island's society.
Sahakyan said that "the atmosphere in Cyprus is just as warm as in
Armenia. We are linked by genuine feelings of solidarity."
He noted that the symbolic Melkonian orphanage and school resulted in
the "rebirth of the Armenian nation, and has over the decades produced
a great number of intellectuals, politicians and scientists," adding
that all these would never be possible without the support of the
state of Cyprus and its friendly nation.
Host Yiannakis Omirou, President of the House of Representatives,
criticised Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide after
which the island provided shelter to thousands of orphans and victims
of the massacres, many of whom later emigrated to other parts of the
world and created the Disapora.
Vartkes Mahdessian, Armenian MP in the Cypriot parliament, said that
the photograph of the orphanage, taken by Haigaz Mangoian, one of
the many Armenians that excelled in Cypriot society and the business
world, said that the idea for the stamp was first conceived by the
late Communications Minister Tassos Mitsopoulos and completed by the
incumbent Minister Marios Demetriades.
Finally, Cyprus Post Director Andreas Gregoriou gave a historical
overview of the Armenians in Cyprus, saying that the oldest records
suggest they arrived on the island during the Byzantine era in 575,
but their numbers dwindled, as did most Christians, during the island's
Ottoman rule from 1571 to 1878.
Gregoriou said that Cyprus Post has had two Armenian Cypriot Directors
in the past and that a special stamp was issued in 1989, after the
earthquake that struck Armenia, with the 3c levy used as financial
aid to the survivors.
http://www.financialmirror.com/news-details.php?nid=34019
02 April, 2015
The postal services of Cyprus and Armenia jointly launched a
commemorative stamp on Thursday to mark the 100th anniversary of the
genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks.
________________________________
Symbolically, the pair of stamps with identical designs, depict the
Melkonian school in Nicosia that originated as an orphanage in 1926
to shelter some 500 young survivors of the massacres.
The Cyprus Post stamp, with a value of 64 cents, shows the historic
school buildings with cypress saplings planted by the first orphans,
that have since blossomed and are as tall as nearby buildings along
the main arterial Limassol Avenue. The Haypost stamp, with a value of
350 dram, shows a historical photograph of the first group of orphans
in uniforms and lined up with the school band.
The visiting President of the Armenian Assembly was greeted by
Communications and Works Minister Marios Demetriades, who said in
his speech that it was "a great honour to welcome Galoust Sahakyan
on behalf of the Cyprus government at the ceremony in remembrance of
the 1.5 mln Armenians that perished in 1915. The international must
not allow for such a crime to be committed again."
He said that the joint stamp launch and the first day of issue marked
the level of "solidarity of our two nations," adding that the Armenians
of Cyprus are an integral part of the island's society.
Sahakyan said that "the atmosphere in Cyprus is just as warm as in
Armenia. We are linked by genuine feelings of solidarity."
He noted that the symbolic Melkonian orphanage and school resulted in
the "rebirth of the Armenian nation, and has over the decades produced
a great number of intellectuals, politicians and scientists," adding
that all these would never be possible without the support of the
state of Cyprus and its friendly nation.
Host Yiannakis Omirou, President of the House of Representatives,
criticised Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide after
which the island provided shelter to thousands of orphans and victims
of the massacres, many of whom later emigrated to other parts of the
world and created the Disapora.
Vartkes Mahdessian, Armenian MP in the Cypriot parliament, said that
the photograph of the orphanage, taken by Haigaz Mangoian, one of
the many Armenians that excelled in Cypriot society and the business
world, said that the idea for the stamp was first conceived by the
late Communications Minister Tassos Mitsopoulos and completed by the
incumbent Minister Marios Demetriades.
Finally, Cyprus Post Director Andreas Gregoriou gave a historical
overview of the Armenians in Cyprus, saying that the oldest records
suggest they arrived on the island during the Byzantine era in 575,
but their numbers dwindled, as did most Christians, during the island's
Ottoman rule from 1571 to 1878.
Gregoriou said that Cyprus Post has had two Armenian Cypriot Directors
in the past and that a special stamp was issued in 1989, after the
earthquake that struck Armenia, with the 3c levy used as financial
aid to the survivors.
http://www.financialmirror.com/news-details.php?nid=34019