WORK AT OLD ARMENIAN CEMETERY TO BEGIN THIS WEEK SAYS ARMENIAN MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN

Gibrahayer
June 20, 2008

June Work for the reconstruction of the derelict old Armenian cemetery
near the Ledra Palace is to begin this week.

A contract has been granted to complete the renovation and construction
of the cemetery, the tombs, the exterior wall as well as the chapel
in the cemetery.

With the previous attempt, renovation works went wrong because workers
simply started breaking up old historic tombs, damaging headstones
and exposing bones, sparking outrage among the community.

Finally after two years, renovations are now ready to take place.

"The preliminary work is complete, all the permissions are in place,
and the work will be supervised by architects who are experienced
professionals" explained the Armenian Representative at the House,
Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian "the project was awarded three weeks ago and
will start this week" he concluded.

The whole project was made possible by a subsidy that was received
from the Cyprus government through the efforts of Mr. Mahdessian, as
well as an amount contributed by the Armenian Church. It is foreseen
that the completion of the project will take about twelve months.

Mahdessian said:"The boundary wall will be restored again, the small
church will be renovated, all the graves will be back in their original
places and the ones that are unidentified will all be placed in a
common grave, which will have all their names inscribed".

"This will be something we as Armenians and Cypriots will be proud of"
Mahdessian added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress