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- Ελληνικά
Forty-nine years have passed this year since the sad events of July 1974, which constitute the most tragic aspect of our country's history.
At tonight's anniversary event organised by the Resistance Fighters' Registry Committee, we pay due tribute to all those who resisted the disastrous coup, shielding democracy with their resistance. We bow to their courage, self-sacrifice and bravery, but also to their commitment to the defence of the rule of law.
At the same time, almost half a century after the ongoing crime and the tragic consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation, we honour all those who fought, defending the territorial sovereignty and integrity of our homeland, sacrificially standing up to the Turkish invader.
At the same time, we mourn for the wounds of the Turkish invasion that still remain open.
At the same time, we mourn for the wounds of the Turkish invasion that remain open. We mourn for the violent displacement, the dead, the wounded and the missing, the theft of our cultural and religious heritage, the alteration of the demographic character of our island, the blatant violation of the basic human rights of our fellow citizens. We are also aware of our historical responsibility towards the hundreds of our heroic dead, towards the relatives of our missing persons, towards our trapped people, towards the thousands of displaced persons, towards our small homeland itself.
As is well known, the coup d'état of 15 July unfortunately led to the tragedy of the Turkish invasion. Today we, in addition to the glorious pages and great historical moments of our nation, ought to keep well in our memory the events and consequences of the disastrous coup. Not to maintain divisive tendencies and attitudes, but, on the contrary, to draw lessons regarding the tragic consequences of the civil strife of our people over time.
With our eyes fixed on the past, we ought to define our future through unanimity, unanimity and unity of forces. It is through unanimity that we must safeguard the Republic of Cyprus, which is the heavy legacy left to us by our heroes through their struggles and sacrifices. It is our duty to strive for the fulfilment of our historical responsibilities, but also for the prosperity and well-being of our country.
Guided by the important steps that have been achieved through the patience, perseverance and diligence that characterize our people, we are obliged to further strengthen our country and enhance its creative role in the wider region. Our highest priority is its liberation and reunification within the framework of a viable solution.
To this end, as we have stressed many times, we are ready at any time to engage in negotiations with the Turkish Cypriot side. What is sought is, through creative dialogue, to reach a mutually acceptable solution that will free our country from occupying troops and anachronistic guarantees. A solution that will ensure functionality and mutual respect, allowing all the legitimate inhabitants of our island to live and co-exist in peace, stability, security and progress.
What we look forward to is for Turkey to show the same determination and constructive attitude as our side, as well as respect for international law and the European acquis, since, through its intransigent stance, it insists on keeping Cyprus as the only divided state in a united Europe.
For this very reason, we seek the further involvement of the European Union in the effort to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of the dialogue. We hope that soon, through appropriate preparation, we will be able to bring our country to the negotiating table, succeeding, through a desirable solution, in transforming our country into a truly independent state.
The prevalence of justice in our country is our debt to our history. It is our debt to all those who fought to establish the Republic of Cyprus. It is our debt to all those who experienced and are experiencing the tragic consequences of the coup and the invasion, to our young men and women, who are the future of our country.
For this obligation we will continue to fight in unity. This will be the greatest honour for all those who sacrificed their lives to defend democratic ideals, to defend our country and its freedom.
In closing, I warmly congratulate the President and the members of the Resistance Fighters' Registry Committee for their work and thank them for their significant contribution to our people's struggle for vindication and freedom.
(MB)
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