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I am very pleased and proud to be in Voroklini today, on a very important day for the community, to celebrate the inauguration of the naming of the Community Stadium as the "Kyriakos Christou" Municipal Stadium.
As a State we welcome the inspiring idea of the Community President and the Community Council to name the Community Stadium after a young man of our country, a young man whose traces were lost during the Turkish invasion. As in the case of many other communities and municipalities, the dedication and naming of public places to people who gave their "presence" without a second thought, with pure feelings of philanthropy and a spirit of altruism and self-sacrifice to the call to defend the homeland, has a special symbolism and great significance. I am here today because I include today's event in the context of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary, half a century, of the Turkish invasion.
It is the duty of the State, the Local Government and each one of us individually to recognise and in any way pay due tribute to people who have given their services to their country and fought for the defence of the Republic of Cyprus and its freedom.
The case of Kyriakos Christou, ladies and gentlemen, is one of these cases. Born in Pyla in 1946, an electrician by profession, married to Margarita Antoniou from Voroklini and father of Maria, he declares his "presence" in defence of our homeland from the Turkish invader in that black summer of 1974. The second phase of the Turkish invasion finds him on his way to Palaikythro, where his traces disappeared and his fate has been unknown ever since.
Thus, Kyriakos Christou is among the large number of missing soldiers and citizens of our country and his family among the families still waiting to learn about the fate of their loved ones.
Undoubtedly, ignorance of the fate of people in cases of war is a universal and timeless issue for all states that have experienced and are experiencing the horrors of war and military conflicts. Our Cyprus, however, is not only no exception, but even 50 years after the Turkish invasion, the failure to establish the fate of all our missing brothers and sisters proves in itself the inhuman and cruel conditions under which the events of 1974 took place and the absence, unfortunately, of a direct and full understanding with Turkey.
Fifty years on, the drama of the missing persons and their families is the most tragic aspect of that summer of 1974.
As a State, in particular through the Office of the Head of Humanitarian Affairs for Missing and Trapped Persons, always with a human and humanitarian approach - for how else can you deal with such an issue - to all issues and in particular those relating to the painful consequences of the Turkish invasion, we are making tireless efforts to resolve, manage and achieve practical solutions, always with seriousness and effectiveness, far from populism and drumbeat. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to assure you that we are fully aware of our responsibility towards the task entrusted to us by the Cypriot people and we are working honestly and effectively to address the consequences, especially the humanitarian issues, of the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation.
To conclude today's event, allow me, as a State, to announce that we will do whatever it takes to have a bust of the hero in the Stadium, not just a name, as it appears as it was on the plaques, so that his memory is eternal.
The community of Voroklini should be proud of its people and its deeds.
The community of Voroklini should be proud of its people and its deeds. At the Voroklini Community Stadium from today, in addition to the sporting activities of young people within its suitably and immaculately designed facilities, it will inspire and remind everyone that above all and above all is love and service to one's country. They will be well aware that they owe it to people to be able to play sport, exercise and enjoy the Stadium's sports facilities. For the Republic of Cyprus to exist today, we all owe it to people like Kyriakos Christou, who willingly and without hesitation ran to defend the integrity and freedom of our homeland. And we will honor the memory of Kyriakos as a whole only through our daily way of life, through the daily effort at our level, the State's level, to end the occupation, to liberate and reunite our homeland.
As a State - this is not my first visit to the community, I was also here as Foreign Minister - we are actively demonstrating our interest in the community of Voroklini with projects that upgrade it and give it the prospect of further development. In cooperation and consultation with our friendly Community Mayor and the Members of the Community Council, we have undertaken the preparation and implementation of important projects, such as the Larnaca-Dekeleia road, which is already underway, as well as the pioneering and pilot project of installing sound barriers along the 2000-metre-long motorway in the form of panels for the application of photovoltaic systems, which will be used to help our vulnerable compatriots. A pilot project, which we plan to expand to other areas of our country.
In this context, I have previously listened to your requests. Also under consideration is the initiative of the Community Council for the creation of a road linking Voroklini with the tourist area and the issue of the creation of the Second Primary School, on which the Minister of Education was informed on the spot and we agreed, I can announce it today, to implement the project.
We are only a few days away from the implementation of the most important reform of local government, a big bet that we must win.
We are only a few days away from the implementation of the most important reform of local government, a big bet that we must win. The ultimate goal is the administrative autonomy and financial sustainability of the new Local Authorities and, at the same time, the expansion of their competences, so that they can offer more and better quality services to the citizen. Our goal is to improve the daily life of citizens and with this in mind, the Government, the Ministry of Interior, always in cooperation with the Union of Municipalities and the Union of Communities, have worked tirelessly in this direction. Through the reform, I believe that the foundations are laid for the implementation of actions, which will lead to the achievement of objectives that are priorities of our governance.
That is why, my friend Mayor of Larnaca, it is being incorporated into Larnaca or rather Larnaca is being incorporated into Voroklini, this joining of forces is taking place, it is something that will help both regions.
And because I am in Larnaca today, I want to tell you that on the issue of the port we are on the same line, we fully agree with what you and you and all the MPs of the city publicly declare. I have spoken to the Minister of Transport, I have asked to arrange a meeting with the company. I am ready to discuss, to listen to the approaches, to come up with solutions, always within the agreed framework.
What I want to convey is that as a state we are not being blackmailed. The state is not being blackmailed but, I repeat, we are here to address the problems that have arisen, always within the agreed framework.
In conclusion, Voroklini, as the largest community in Cyprus, deserves special attention from the State and local stakeholders. We listen to the strong concerns. You mentioned immigration, it is something that concerns the whole of our country. We are aware of your needs and I want to assure you that we will work to address and resolve all issues. We owe it to our citizens, we owe it to our young people, we owe it to the people who have contributed to the country and fought for its salvation. We owe it to Kyriakos Christou.
(PM/NYAN/MS)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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