General News
Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
NICOSIA. Refuting media reports in the wake of failed unity talks, Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said Turkey, which has occupied the northern third of the island since an unlawful 1974 invasion, isn’t going to open the fenced-off neighborhood of Varosha in Famagusta.
Akinci, whose negotiations with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades fell apart over Turkey’s demands to keep its 35,000-strong standing army on the island along with the right to militarily intervene, said opening Varosha would have to take place with the backing of the United Nations, which keeps a small peacekeeping force on the di divided island.
During an interview with Turkish Cypriot daily Milliyet, Akinci said that neither side had an interest in perpetuating the current status of Varosha – the deserted southern quarter of the city of Famagusta in the island’s occupied north – adding however that opening up the town to its lawful inhabitants “all political and legal aspects must be taken into account.”
“This decision will need to be made in the framework of UN parameters,” he said. “We are focusing on this.”
Asked about recent peace talks at the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, Akinci blamed the failure to reach a settlement on the Greek Cypriot side, saying it was “acting like a bride that does not want to dance” without explaining what he meant.
Earlier, the Greek newspaper Kathimerini said that according to unconfirmed reports, Turkey’s diplomatic and military authorities received instructions to prepare for the opening of Varosha and to offer Cypriots who left during the unlawful 1974 invasion to return – but only if they agree to submit to Turkish law.
Turkish Cypriots announced that members of the island’s Maronite community can return to their villages in the north but would have to live under Turkish Cypriot administration in a self-declared Republic only Turkey recognizes.
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Sabreen Jouda came into the world seconds after her mother left it.
QUEENS, NY – St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino will be honored for his outstanding contributions to Panathinaikos B.
PISCATAWAY, NJ – The Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (EFGOCM) presents its 31st annual ‘Spirit of Lent’ choral concert on Friday, April 26, 7:30 PM, at St.
CRETE – The Cretan Olive Oil Competition (COOC) celebrated its 10th anniversary and the accomplishments of Cretan olive oil producers with an awards ceremony and informative seminars in Heraklion, Crete, Greece, on March 31.
BOSTON – Archbishop Elpidophoros of America filed a lawsuit against Sotirios Tzoumas, publisher of the Athens-based ecclesiastical news agency Exapsalmos.