In her speech at the national memorial service of the fighter of the liberation struggle of E.O.K.A. 1955-1959, Nitsas Hadjigeorgiou, said that this cause should be a collective responsibility of all.
Referring to the sacrifice of Nitsas Hadjigeorgiou, Ms. Parisinou said that she was a young woman fighter with invaluable action in the struggle, but whose later shocking story was dramatic and painful, ending tragically. It is a minimum debt, she noted, for younger generations to know, appreciate and keep her memory intact as a model of philanthropy, who lived and acted humbly, selflessly and with a clear conscience, and whose valuable services to her country were only recognized by time and history, vindicating and restoring her reputation and dignity.
The beginning of the national liberation struggle of EOKA was for the whole of our small and despised, at the given moment, people a supreme manifestation of fighting ethics and virtue. Nitsa Hadjigeorgiou willingly and consciously took the oath that initiated her into the Organization at the age of 21.
At that time Nitsa lived with her mother in a small and poor house in Agios Dometios and worked as a hairdresser in the centre of Nicosia. Many Englishmen and Englishwomen passed by her place of work every day from whom she obtained useful information, which she passed on to the Organization. At the same time she smuggled and concealed material while closely cooperating and assisting fighters, who were active both in Nicosia and in Agios Dometios.
Remarkable, however, was her contribution to the operation of transporting Grigory Afxentios from Pentadaktylos to Kakopetria, a mission which she undertook together with Kyriakos Matsis, who was the driver of the car. Despite the very difficult conditions, the Struggle continued with many fighters being arrested and tortured inhumanely and several being condemned and sentenced to death. Nitsa was offered to be the bait, which she accepted without objection. However, the mission took a bad turn and after the death of the English Officer and an exchange of shots with EOKA fighters at Nitsa's house, the EOKA fighter was transferred to the dungeons of Omorphita, as the allegations she made about the scenes that unfolded in her house, as dictated to her by the EOKA leadership, were not believed by the English.
She is tortured, humiliated and thrown into prison without any trial, yet she does not betray her comrades. After her release from prison and her failing health, she manages to survive.
She returns home but no one recognizes her participation and action in EOKA and everyone despises her.
On March 11, 1968, Nitsa leaves this world at the age of 37. She is found dead in bed by her mother. On her chest she holds a New Testament. Despite initial and hasty assessments, which attributed her death to suicide, the coroner who conducted an autopsy ruled it a murder. A murder that will never be solved.
In her honour, the Youth Association of Agios Dometios made sure to highlight her courageous action and her admirable contribution to her country, keeping her memory, values and ideals alive.
Referring to the national liberation struggle of EOKA, Mrs Parisinou said that it was a milestone in the course of Hellenism in general and wrote golden pages in modern Cypriot history.
However, Turkey's intransigence and the dead-end path of threats and provocations are a wound for our land, a wound for the heart of Europe in the Mediterranean.
"We remain committed to the goal of ending the occupation and reuniting our homeland within the framework of a viable and functional solution, adapted to the values and principles of the European acquis. This goal should be the collective responsibility of all of us in order to safeguard our national survival and dignity through unity of forces, far from the divisive syndromes of the past."
He noted that "international developments, difficulties and contemporary problems oblige us to be vigilant and ready". "The current aggressive Russian invasion of Ukraine and the dangerous political backdrop of what we see unfolding every day should be seen by Europe and the entire civilised, democratic world as a danger to stability and peace, but also as a dangerous challenge to the whole of Europe and our political civilisation in general," he added.
The due response will also be a confirmation that Europe is indeed united and can stand up to new challenges and manifestations of barbarism, she added.
Source: CNA
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