A journalist from Trabzon refers to the commemorations in Cyprus for the Genocide of the Pontic Greeks

In her article, entitled “Cyprus Honors the Victims of the Pontic Greek Genocide in Turkey”, Uzay Bulut (pictured) refers to the unveiling of the Central National Monument to the Pontic Greek Genocide in Paralimni, which took place with the support of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Municipality of Paralimni-Dheryneia.

The project was initiated by the “Nikos Kapetanidis” Action Association, based in Thessaloniki and chaired by journalist Giorgos Georgiadis. The monument is presented as a tribute to the sacred memory of the 353,000 innocent victims of the Genocide.

Boulut emphasizes that Cyprus is not limited to monumental honor. The Cypriot state is also moving forward with the official integration of the history of the Pontic Genocide into the educational system. The Minister of Education of Cyprus, Athena Michaelidou, confirmed that schools in Cyprus will teach and honor the Genocide, with May 19th acquiring an institutional dimension as a Day of Remembrance.

The article provides an extensive historical review of Pontus, the ancient Greek presence in the Black Sea and the long-standing cultural contribution of the Greeks in the region. Bulut refers to important figures of the Pontic Greek tradition, such as Diogenes of Sinope, Heraclides of Pontus, Strabo of Amaseus, Evagrius of Pontus, and Basil of Bessarion.

The author notes that the region passed through the Roman and Byzantine Empires, while the conquest of the Empire of Trebizond by Mehmed II in 1461 marked the end of the last great independent successor state of Byzantium. The following is a description of the position of Christians under Ottoman rule, who were treated as second-class citizens, with social and legal restrictions, heavy taxation, and discrimination.

The article focuses on the Pontic Genocide of 1914-1923, which Bulut describes as the systematic extermination of the indigenous Greeks of the Ottoman Empire before, during and after World War I. The genocidal policy included massacres, forced displacement, death marches, deportations, boycotts, rapes, conversions to Islam, labor battalions, executions and the destruction of Christian monuments.

Uzay Bulut attaches particular importance to the connection between Pontus and Cyprus. As she points out, these are two ancient Greek homelands that share a common historical experience: Greek heritage, culture, but also invasions, persecutions and devastation by Turkish power.

The columnist recalls that Cyprus has been under illegal Turkish military occupation since 1974, with approximately 36.2% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus controlled by Turkey through a pseudo-state recognized only by Ankara. She also refers to the forced displacement of 160,000 to 200,000 Greek Cypriots, the colonization of the occupied, the destruction of cultural heritage and the attempt to alter the Greek and Christian character of the region.

Bulut’s conclusion is clear: on May 19, history was made in Cyprus. Despite the fact that the Republic of Cyprus remains under Turkish occupation and constant threat, it showed moral courage by honoring the victims of the Pontic Genocide with a monument and by including the relevant history in school education.

According to Uzay Bulut, the example of Cyprus should be followed by other civilized governments in the world. The memory of the Pontic Genocide is not just a Greek issue. It is a matter of historical truth, justice and international responsibility.