Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-08-04

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] G/C and T/C artists - Meeting - Sweden

1100:CYPPRESS:01

[01] G/C and T/C artists - Meeting - Sweden

Nicosia, Aug 4 (CNA) -- Twenty-nine Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists met on Gotland island, Sweden, for a week of joint creative expression in various workshops in the service of peace and friendship.

Poets, painters, actors, film-makers, photographers and translators from both communities took part in the meeting, held between July 26 and August 1, which was organised by Gotland University and the Umbrella Orgasnisation of the Swedish Artist Unions (KLYS).

The event was funded by world organisation UNESCO, Leventis'Institute in Cyprus, George Papandreou Institute in Greece and Swedish local authorities.

Greek Cypriot writer Niki Marangou told CNA, "we came back with the best impressions," adding the group worked together in different workshops very successfully.

She said "it is very important to build bridges of communication" between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists and added they will try to expand the group.

Marangou said there is an invitation by the Swedish Institute for the next bicommunal artist meeting to be held in Constaninople (Istanbul).

Turkish Cypriot painter Ashik Mene, who also took part in the meeting, told CNA the artists gave a good example in Gotland, adding, "we can do something together since our politicians think differently and talk in different languages".

He pointed out the Turkish Cypriot artists were all impressed by the meeting although it was a short one. "What can you do in a few days?", he said.

Mene, who was born in the southern coastal town of Larnaca but now lives in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island, said "the people from both communities love their homeland and are responsible for what is happening in Cyprus. "We have to do something for our children," he stressed.

Mene said he was saddened when his children once asked him what the Greek Cypriots looked like.

The Gotland meeting was also attended by UNESCO's General Director Frederico Mayor and representatives of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mayor expressed the hope for further meetings between intellectuals from the two communities in Cyprus.

CNA AA/MCH/1999

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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