The presentation of the new book by journalist and author Yannis Kareklas entitled "Cyprus: Journey to the Cliff (1830-1974)" took place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in the Events Hall of the Paralimni - Deryneia Municipal Hall, an event co-organized by the Municipality of Ayia Napa, the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta and the Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia.
The event was attended and delivered by the Mayor of Ayia Napa Christos Zannetou, the Mayor of Paralimni - Deryneia George Nikolettos, the President of the Famagusta Regional Council Yiannis Karousos, the Metropolitan of Constantia and Famagusta Vasilios (Metropolitan of Constantia and Famagusta), as well as the Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou.
In his greeting, the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannetou, praised the author's significant contribution to the public debate surrounding the Cyprus issue, pointing out that Yannis Kareklas' new book is not simply a historical record, but a substantial act of public responsibility, historical honesty and national self-awareness.
Referring to the author's work, Mr. Zannetou underlined his long and distinguished career in journalism, with a presence spanning over five decades and significant contributions to the Cyprus Radio Foundation, where he also served as News Director, as well as his significant writing and research activity on the Cyprus issue.
He made particular reference to the content of the book, emphasizing that it is a work that approaches the course of the Cyprus issue with sobriety, documentation and intellectual courage, illuminating not only the external factors that influenced its development, but also the internal weaknesses, the wrong choices and the historical failures that contributed to the formation of the tragedy.
The Mayor of Ayia Napa underlined that for the Famagusta district, historical memory is not an abstract concept, but a lived experience, as it is directly linked to the loss, the refugee situation and the open wound of the homeland. As he noted, the study of history is a necessary condition for a society that wants to understand its past and responsibly claim its future.
At the same time, Mr. Zannetou emphasized the role of Local Government in strengthening historical knowledge and public dialogue, noting that Municipalities are not only bodies of development and administration, but also custodians of historical memory, cultural continuity and social cohesion.
In conclusion, he warmly congratulated the author for the courage and seriousness with which he presents his work in the public sphere, expressing the hope that the book will be widely read and will be an occasion for meaningful dialogue, especially among young people, educators and researchers.
The event concluded with an intervention by the author and a reception that followed, providing the opportunity for further discussion and exchange of views on one of the most important issues in the modern history of Cyprus.
