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[SPEECH BY MR S.KYRPRIANOU] [SPEECH BY MR A.CHRISTOFIDES]
[SPEECH BY MR H.TZALAS]

SPEECH BY THE EX-PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC MR SPYROS KYPRIANOU WELCOMING "KYRENIA II" IN PAPHOS

Cyprus is deeply moved, welcoming today "Kyrenia II", the ship which on its sea route from Greece to Cyprus revived legends and traditions of Greek centuries, carrying, together with the fruits of the land of the Hellenes, the inquiring mind and the creative genius of the Greek people and, above all, the message of national single-mindedness and solidarity with the fighting Cypriot Hellenism.
Many centuries ago the original ancient Greek ship came from the Aegean to the shores of Cyprus. It sank off the coast of Kyrenia and was raised as a national relic, from the waters of Kyrenia some years ago. Today the ancient ship, together with Kyrenia and its sea, is held captive by the forces of the Turkish Attilla. Nevertheless, it continues, to proclaim the historical identity of the land of Cyprus and strengthen, with its great symbolism, the uninterrupted national memory.
"Kyrenia II" cannot sail to Kyrenia now. It cannot drop anchor at the picturesque harbour of this beautiful occupied town. It has, however, travelled across Greek seas and Greek centuries and come to port in the mythical sea of Paphos, venturing not only on a practical experiment in nautical archaeology but, at the same time primarily renewing and reinforcing the inseparable bonds between Cyprus and the Greek world and conveying everywhere the Nation's hopes and faith in the survival and vindication of our tormented small country.
The journey of "Kyrenia II" is a hymn to Greek history Greek traditions and Greek navigation. Apart from the great scientific significance of this trip, there is its symbolic national character, at a time when the upsurge of Turkish rapacity and expansionism have victimized Cyprus and is threatening the Aegean. The course of "Kyrenia II" is a historical journey across Greek provinces, the identity of which can neither be forged nor falsified by anyone. "Kyrenia II" has come to us accompanied by the destroyer "Aegean", as a symbol of Greek co-alignment in the struggle of Cyprus.
It is with national pride that we now welcome the captain, the officers and sailors of the "Aegean". We welcome them as brothers and champions of Greek honour and freedom, as defenders of the territorial integrity and national independence of Greece in its agelong mythical and historical marine sovereignty. We acclaim the fact that one of the "wooden walls", according to the ancient definition, is proudly present at our shores. Welcome to Cyprus, where, according to the poet, miracles still hapen.
We extend the same welcome to the Greek Minister of Culture and Science Mrs Melina Mercouri and her entourage, whose presence confirms the Greek Government's will for full and unreserved co-alignment and solidarity with Cyprus. We also welcome the captain and crew of the "Kyrenia II" ship for their feat and congratulate the ship's builders and all those who took the initiative for its rebirth, with its most significant symbolism.
Cyprus is now in the forefront of the struggle for the honour and dignity of Hellenism. Its struggle for freedom and justice is a struggle that belongs to Greek history.
No matter how painful our wounds may be, no matter how great our tragedy from the Turkish Attilla may be, we will persevere and stand our ground. We will resist the conqueror's expansionist plans and we will not surrender until the hour of liberation, freedom and vindication of our people and our country.
Sooner or later, someday, surely, the ship of Kyrenia will reach the port of its final destination. It is certain that fair winds will blow.[GO TOP]

BY THE EX-MINISTER OF EDUCATION MR ANDREAS CHRISTOFIDES AT THE WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR "KYRENIA II" IN PAPHOS

Hellenic of old, since the time of Praxander, its founder, Kyrenia is now occupied but not a slave, holding in its castle, as a megalithic companion, the ancient ship of Kyrenia.

A Greek merchant vessel of the 4th century B.C, with a captain and three sailors, the ship had traversed the entire Mediterranean before it sank off the shores of Kyrenia around 300 B.C. There, on the seabed, it remained until 1965, when Kariolou discovered it and archaeologists completely restored it.

The shipwreck of Kyrenia, a bridge that fills the gap between Homeric and Hellenistic times, occurred with a harsh whim of fortune, sharing the fate of Hellenism in Cyprus.

The Greek ship of Kyrenia, one of the innumerable vessels aboard which, for thousands of years, Hellenism has incessantly been sailing from the "shores of Homer" "for exploration" and "trade", ultimately found itself captive in the entrenchments of Attilla.

The ship was replicated in the shipyard of Psarros at Perama. The replica of its wood, brought to life by the able shipbuilders, the captain and its crew, sailed off from Pireus and followed the ancient route before reaching Paphos. It was launched in the waters of Salamis and travelled towards the place where "there is an Island", where ancient pictures have "as a mosaic in their eyes the bitter pain of Greece". Hellenism welcomes it in the way it has been waiting for ages.

Our thanks go to those who have contributed to this exemplary effort.

Our expectations converge with the secret voices that span distances and constitute the word and myth of the Nation.

Welcoming "Kyrenia II" we welcome our history, tradition and civilization.
And welcoming our past we see into our future.

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Reply by the President of H.I.P.N.T and director of the Kyrenia II programme Mr HARIS TZALAS

On behalf of the board of trustees of H.I.P.N.T [Hellenic Institute for the Protection of Nautical Tradition], the

crew, the scieritists who have accompanied the ship and all those who worked hard to bring this voyage about, I wish to express our heart-felt thanks for the warm welcome we are receiving today.

I am deeply moved. I visualized this moment four years ago, when my colleagues and I began the building of this ship.

With the "Kyrenia II" Experimental Archaeology programme we have managed to fill many gaps in our knowledge of ancient shipbuilding and the journeys of ancient ships. We sailed across the Aegean, arrived at Kos and from there we followed the route of the last journey of the ancient ship of Kyrenia. On the small island of Ro, next to the grave of the lady of Ro, we hoisted the Greek flag, as this great Greek lady used to do for decades. We planted an olive tree, a symbol of peace, that was given to us by the Minister of Culture when we started our journey. And now we have arrived in Cyprus and we are overjoyed.

At this happy and moving hour our thoughts should be with the man who discovered the ancient Greek ship of Kyrenia, Andreas Kariolou, who unfortunately is not with us now. We dedicate the journey we have made to his memory, to the memory of the man who loved the sea, Kyrenia and Cyprus. Andreas Kariolou left us grieving because he didn't live to see his beloved Kyrenia free. Today we give a pledge that we will not lay up "Kyrenia II" until the day when the flag of liberty flies over the castle of Kyrenia. And this day will come. And then we will come again on "Kyrenia II", we will return and enter the free harbour of Kyrenia, with the same crew, the same captain, Antonis Vassiliades, and Andreas's son Glafkos Kariolou. Until then this ship will not stop crossing the oceans from East to West, carrying the message that here are men who do not compromise, who persist in the struggle for liber- ation, who do not forget.

We cannot do more with this merchant ship, with this small ship, with this ship of peace.

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Last Updated: Saturday, June 01, 1996 12:08:21 AM