The community council of Pyrroi, a now-ruined village within a military zone in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus, has called for the return of its displaced residents and the opening of a Pyrroi crossing point.
A delegation from the Pyrroi Community Council delivered a resolution on Monday to House President Annita Demetriou, denouncing the illegal occupation of the village since the ceasefire after the second phase of the Turkish invasion in August 1974.
“We can’t even visit our church or homes,” said the community leader Gina Ioannou, joined by her deputy and council members, who stressed the lack of access to the village. The only road, via Tymbou, is blocked by barbed wire, making entry strictly prohibited.
Ioannou presented the resolution, affirming that they are determined to keep the memory of their village alive. Demetriou praised their persistence, stating, “No matter how many years pass, we are here to stand up for our villages, for our land.”
Demetriou said the initiative highlights the need for coordination and prioritisation on national issues, under realistic conditions. “Our goal remains liberation and reunification. We will not leave our land in the hands of the occupier,” she said.
Deputy community leader Panayiotis Savvides appealed to Demetriou for help in reopening the Pyrroi crossing. She expressed hope that ongoing efforts will succeed and affirmed that “we will apply pressure wherever needed, though the outcome is not solely in our hands.”
She added that Turkey continues to take an uncompromising and illegal stance, but Cyprus will not stop fighting for its occupied villages.
Speaking after the meeting, Savvides — who also chairs the Pyrroi Refugee Association — said President Christodoulides has made intensive efforts to open a crossing, but “hit a wall” and has been unable to advance the issue. “This deeply saddens us,” he said.
Describing the scene in Pyrroi, Savvides said many of the mudbrick homes have collapsed, while in others, bricks have been removed, leaving only columns and roofs. “We want to see our homes, and every year we’ll continue demanding this, delivering resolutions to both Parliament and the Presidential Palace,” he said.
Ioannou highlighted that the village’s church — the only one in Cyprus dedicated to Saint Antipas — dates to the 14th century. Although a restoration request was submitted via the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, it was denied due to a nearby military unit.
Asked whether the military installation is visible, she confirmed it is. The Turkish army reportedly stores ammunition in the village school and has repaired three houses that are now inhabited.
Savvides also recalled that Pyrroi was a mixed village until 1963, with around 120 Turkish Cypriot residents who, he said, were ordered to leave — “we don’t know by whom.” There was no intercommunal conflict within the village at the time, he added.
He mentioned past discussions with the “mukhtar” of Louroujina, who had also expressed support for a Pyrroi crossing, saying it would make it easier for Louroujina residents to travel to Nicosia.
Source: CNA
Feature photo source: Polygrnosi
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