The aftermath of the Cyprus dispute saw the creation of the Nicosia
buffer zone in 1974. This area cuts through the historic centre and has
disrupted the city’s cohesion for almost 40 years. Decades of
abandonment have undermined the high architectural value of the
buildings, among which are medieval and neoclassical monuments, and had a
devastating impact on the quality of the environment and living
conditions of the entire city centre. Once the focal point of crafts and
trade, the heart of historic Nicosia is today a lifeless 1.5 km
corridor.
Since the 1980, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities of
Nicosia have worked together, with the support of the United Nations, to
produce a Master Plan for the revitalization of the buffer zone.
International assistance is today needed to start its implementation by
restoring, one by one, the historic buildings located in the Nicosia
buffer zone.
This important Master Plan, which is a brilliant example of cultural
heritage acting as a catalyst for peace and reconciliation, received a
Grand Prix in category research as part of the 2011 European Union Prize
for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards programme.
In this initial year, civil society
organisations and public bodies from 21 European countries submitted 40
nominations. ‘The 7 Most Endangered’ programme was launched last
January, having been inspired by a successful project run by the US
National Trust for Historic Preservation.
These gems of Europe’s cultural and natural heritage are in
danger, some due to lack of funds or expertise, others due to inadequate
planning, neglect, natural disaster or even political conflict. Urgent
action is therefore required.
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