THE ARMENIANS OF CYPRUS 32 27 May 2001 Bedros Kalaydjian is re-elected Armenian Representative, securing 57,13% of the votes. 21 October 2001 Presidential Commissioner Manolis Christophides unveils the marble khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the eternal friendship of Armenians and Greeks in Cyprus. 28 April 2002 Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveils the marble tomb-ossuary in front of AYMA. 1 December 2002 Armenian is recognised as a minority language in Cyprus. 1 May 2005 Donator Aleco Bezigian unveils the bronze bust of Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian in Nicosia. 9 October 2005 Dr. Vahakn Atamyan is elected Armenian Representative in a by-election, securing 52,03% of the votes. 21 May 2006 Vartkes Mahdessian is elected Armenian Representative, securing 52,60% of the votes. 28 June 2006 President Tassos Papadopoulos inaugurates the“Raphaelian”wing of the Kalaydjian Rest Home for the Elderly. 24 November 2006 The President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan lays the foundation stone for the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Larnaka. 6 May 2007 Armenians pray, for the first time since the 1974 invasion, at Saint Makarios Monastery (Magaravank). 6 March 2008 Marios Garoyian is elected President of the House of Representatives. 28 May 2008 President Demetris Christofias unveils the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Larnaka. 28 September 2008 Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveils the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) in Limassol. 5 November 2008 President Demetris Christofias inaugurates the new Nareg School in Limassol. 28 February 2010 Representative Vartkes Mahdessian inaugurates the new AYMA hall. 11 April 2010 ArchbishopVaroujanHergelian re-consecrates the chapel of Saint Paul and celebrates the first Liturgy since 1963. 8 May 2010 Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and Representative Vartkes Mahdessian inaugurate the renovated functions’ hall next to the Saint George church in Limassol. 5 May 2011 President Demetris Christofias inaugurates the new Larnaka AGBU club. 17 May 2011 Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Andreas Demetriou inaugurates the new Nicosia Nareg auditorium. 22 May 2011 Vartkes Mahdessian is re-elected as Armenian Representative, securing 67,67% of the votes. 25 December 2011 Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian consecrates the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Adana massacre and the myriads of Armenian martyrs. 26 February 2012 Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian and Fr. Mashdots Ashkarian unveil the tuff stone khachkar (cross-stone) dedicated to all deceased of the Armenian nation in Larnaka. 11 May 2014 ArchbishopVaroujan Hergelian re-consecrates the oldVirginMary cathedral in occupiedNicosia and celebrates the first Liturgy since 1964. 22 November 2014 Minister of Education and Culture Dr. Costas Kadis inaugurates“Nanor”Armenian Childcare Centre. 28 November 2014 Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou inaugurates Homenetmen-AYMA’s pitch. 2 April 2015 Official launch for the joint commemorative stamps of the Republics of Cyprus and Armenia featuring the Melkonian Educational Institute, marking the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. 3 April 2015 House of Representatives adopts Law criminalising the denial of the Armenian Genocide. 16 March 2016 President Nicos Anastasiades and the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan unveil a tuff stone khachkar (cross- stone) dedicated from the Armenian people to the friendly people of Cyprus. 5 May 2016 Vartkes Mahdessian is declared Armenian Representative, with no other contestant.