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We gathered today at Camp "Elias Papakyriakou", to commemorate the feast of the Great Martyr Trophy Bearer Saint George, patron saint of the Infantry and the Land Army.
Together with the liberator of the captives and the defender of the poor, the glorious soldier and major general George, the National Guard also celebrates every year.
The women and men of the force celebrate. The officers, non-commissioned officers, contract and conscript soldiers, civilian personnel, reservists and national guardsmen.
Celebrating all of you who, with a full sense of responsibility and a strong sense of morale, with your high level of skills and abilities, professionalism, dedication and willingness to contribute, determine the effectiveness and make a major contribution to the development and upgrading of our Armed Forces.
All these traits constitute an important factor that determines the fighting capacity in order for the National Guard to continue to perform its role as a pillar of security and a force of deterrence against any aggression.
Each one of you is an outstanding addition to the chain of the whole edifice, contributing to the progress and achievement of our collective goals of defending the territorial integrity and safeguarding the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
As a State and as a Cypriot society, we are grateful to you and proud of your service.
With immense respect to all those who sacrificed themselves in the struggles to defend the freedom of our Cyprus, we prayed today to the Panagathos for the repose of their souls.
We also begged the Pantanassa Theotokos, the One who experienced the Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of her Son and God, to answer our prayers for the determination of the fate of all our missing persons.
The souls of the fallen and absent freedom fighters of our homeland from the glorious battlefields are with us in spirit today.
The spirited warriors of the infantry units, the black-shirted men of the tanks, the courageous Rangers, the gunners of the Artillery Corps, the diggers of the Engineers and the transports of the National Guard. All of them answered the call to defend their country in an unequal struggle and taught by their heroic stance that freedom and glory are gained through daring and determination.
Along with them and the legendary fighters of ELDYK, who, as genuine descendants of great ancestors, demonstrated unmatched manliness and supreme fighting spirit, depositing a heavy toll of blood in the struggle to defend the sacred and holy places of Hellenism on the island.
From Mia Milia and Kythrea, from Lapithos and Karavas, from Dikomo and Kyrenia, from White Moutti and Alonagra, from Lorovounos, Koutsoventi and Agios Hilarion, from the northern suburbs and Nicosia Airport and from wherever else required, all of them honoured the sacred oath they took and fought to the last drop of their blood, showing inexhaustible heroism and self-denial.
Today, fifty years after the Turkish invasion of 1974, we have as never before a sacred duty towards our heroes to continue our own struggle, with the same faith and the same perseverance, until we finally make our country free and reunited.
The passage of 50 years has in no way mitigated the effects of the barbaric Turkish invasion. Turkey's violation of fundamental human rights and its intransigent attitude towards our efforts as the Republic of Cyprus to break the deadlock and resume the talks process.
A process which aims at a sincere and constructive dialogue, with the ultimate goal of resolving the Cyprus problem, which will lead our Cyprus to the path of development, progress and prosperity.
The current situation with the aggressive policy of Ankara leading to further instability and uncertainty and the questioning of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our homeland, as well as the necessity of adapting to the modern environment, have made it a top priority to strengthen our defence armour.
For this very reason, the Ministry of Defence will continue to seek to upgrade and modernise the deterrent capabilities and operational capacity of the National Guard.
Happy Birthday to the Land Army.
Happy Birthday to the National Guard, which this year marks the 60th anniversary of its establishment.
Happy Birthday to all the celebrants.
May the "Great Taxiarch of Faith" St. George, the great and glorious one of Christ, protect you and give you strength.
Thank you.
(NZ/EP)
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