“Oxygen for Democracy’ award for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who contributed to peace
A new award has been announced to posthumously acknowledge individuals, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who have contributed to advancing peace and democracy in Cyprus.
The award, entitled Oxygen for Democracy Award, is a new initiative to posthumously recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of Democracy and Peace in Cyprus, the Cyprus Forum announced on Wednesday.
It reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to celebrating and preserving the legacies of those who have dedicated their lives to these vital causes. The nominees are Lellos Demetriades, who served as Mayor of Nicosia for 30 years and collaborated with Mustafa Akinci through a series of informal agreements to upgrade the city’s sewerage system. Next is Lena Melanidou who co-founded and conducted the Choir for Peace in Cyprus, uniting Greek and Turkish Cypriots since 1997 to promote reconciliation and a peaceful solution to the political conflict, Stella Soulioti, a trailblazer and a highly
influential figure in Cypriot political life as well as the first woman to join the Greek Cypriot negotiation team during the bi-communal talks. Another candidate is Xenofon Kallis who led the missing persons service at the foreign ministry for many years, dedicated his life to uncovering the fate of those missing from the 1955-59, 1963-64, and 1974 conflicts.
Turkish Cypriot Özker Özgr is also nominated, an educator, politician, and influential leader in the peace struggle in Cyprus, dedicating his life to community unity, peace, and a federal solution, Tuncer Bagiskan, researcher, writer, and archaeologist who conducted archaeological surveys and excavations across Cyprus and in 2011 and 2019 directed officials from the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus to possible burial sites, leading to the discovery of remains of Greek Cypriots. Also nominated are Turkan Aziz, a pioneering figure in Cypriot healthcare, serving as the first director of midwives and nursing staff and becoming the first Turkish Cypri
ot head nurse at Nicosia General Hospital after the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 and Vedia Barut, a prominent figure in the Turkish Cypriot community, a businesswoman, known for her warm relationships with people, she also worked as a newspaper trader in Nicosia for nearly 60 years, facilitating communication between the north and south of Cyprus by exchanging newspapers even when the border gates were closed.
The winners of this award will be announced at the Networking Event of the Cyprus Forum, which will take place on 3rd October at 19:30 in the Nicosia Old Town Hall Garden.
The public is invited to participate in this process by casting a vote for one Greek Cypriot and one Turkish Cypriot. Voting is open until 30th September.
The Cyprus News Agency is a media sponsor for the Cyprus Forum.
Source: Cyprus News Agency