It is with national reflection and deep emotion that I come to the event organized by the Municipality of Pafos, to pay the minimum tribute to the victims of Pontian Hellenism, on the Day of Remembrance of the Pontian Genocide, which took place at the beginning of the 20th century. At the same time, we are here to inaugurate the "Pontian Genocide Park", in honour of the thousands of victims of Pontian brothers and sisters who were exterminated in one of the greatest crimes against humanity. To this end, I would like to warmly congratulate, on behalf of the State, the Municipality of Paphos and especially my friend Mayor Phaidonas Phaidonos, for their commendable initiative.
The residents of the city of Kinyra should feel particularly proud that this park is dedicated to the memory and honour of the thousands of victims of Pontian Hellenism, reminding us all of the heinous crimes committed against Hellenism by Turkish expansionism, repeatedly, throughout history. Let it be a hive of national vigilance, so that we do not allow such crimes and national calamities to be repeated in the future.
For almost 28 centuries, Greeks from Ionia took root all along the Black Sea coast and inland. In the land of Pontus they founded flourishing cities such as Sinope, Amissos, Amaseia, Trebizond and Kerasounta. They preserved the Greek culture and spoke the Pontian language, as a genuine continuation of the ancient Hellenistic common and Ionian dialect.
The Greeks of Pontus experienced, perhaps more than anyone else, the cruel side of the face of history, as thousands of innocent souls perished due to a systematic and organized political extermination. A crime triggered by the gradual emergence and growing influence of Turkish nationalism.
Mass deportations with endless marches to the arid hinterland of Turkey, forced labour, looting and destruction of villages, Islamisation, mass murders and deaths from hunger and hardship were part of the well-organised plan to annihilate the Pontians.
Cyprus, having experienced the Turkish atrocity itself, was the first country, after Greece, to recognize the genocide by a decision of the House of Representatives on 19 May 1994.
Friends,
The Greek Nation has deep roots in space and time and a glorious historical past. As Greeks, we feel proud of our long history, culture, language, struggles and achievements of our nation. But we do not forget that this historical path has been watered on many occasions with the blood and tears of our ancestors. Our freedom, the preservation of our identity, the defence of our principles, values and ideals were never taken for granted, nor were they given to us.
Today, through the inauguration of the "Pontian Genocide Park", we commemorate the thousands of victims of Turkish nationalism, which does not tolerate diversity in nationality, culture, ideology and religion. We pay tribute to all those who lost their lives or were displaced with the sole aim of ethnic cleansing of entire regions. We must not forget but always seek vindication and recognition by Turkey of its crimes.
Despite the suffering and the obvious violation of every concept of international law, as Greek Cypriots, what we seek is the achievement of peace and security in our land, which has been suffering for 48 years from the illegal occupation of territory, from the uprooting of thousands of people from their ancestral homes and from the drama experienced by hundreds of families waiting for the fate of their missing relatives and friends to be determined.
In today's extremely difficult global situation with the war in Ukraine, Turkey is trying to present itself as a mediator to reach a solution. But it has become obvious, with its pretentious neutrality and reaction to Finland's and Sweden's applications for NATO membership, that its ultimate goal is to serve its revisionist ambitions, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, in the blackmailing way it has historically continued.
In this difficult environment, which it is creating, we must continue the struggle for the reunification of our country on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the EU. It is imperative that we demonstrate good will to resume dialogue and the package of confidence-building measures we are proposing is intended to assist this effort.
Today, 19 May, the day of remembrance and honour of the Genocide of the Pontic Hellenism, let us reverently bow our heads to the sacrifice of the thousands of innocent souls who perished so brutally and to the many thousands more who were uprooted from their land, with the wish and hope of vindication and readiness to prevent similar crimes against Hellenism in the future.
Thank you.
(BG/EXP)
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