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I am truly honoured to participate, as President of the Republic of Cyprus, in today's event. It is a heavy duty and I consider it my duty and obligation to pay on behalf of the Cypriot people the minimum tribute to a special patriot, a great Greek hero.
General Georgios Katsanis, Commander of the 33rd Commando Squadron in 1974 with the rank of Major, sacrificed himself during the Turkish invasion, defending the Republic of Cyprus, its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the freedom of its citizens. For many years he was on the long list of missing persons, until 2020 and the discovery of part of his remains in Cyprus through DNA analysis. His burial took place in his hometown, Sidirokastro, Serres.
Katsanis, ladies and gentlemen, had distinguished himself as a track and field athlete of the historic Hercules Thessaloniki Gymnastics Club, hence the presence of a delegation of the Club at the naming ceremony of the park, which is located next to the closed Katsaneio Gymnasium, here in Agios Dimitrios Street, Thessaloniki.
Katsanis, ladies and gentlemen, had distinguished himself as a track and field athlete of the historic Hercules Thessaloniki Gymnastics Club, hence the presence of a delegation of the Club at the naming ceremony of the park, which is located next to the closed Katsaneio Gymnasium, here in Agios Dimitrios Street, Thessaloniki.
The range of tributes to the name of General Katsani, the camps, the monuments, the busts, the naming ceremony and everything that has been done in honor of his sacrifice, in Thessaloniki, in Sidirokastro, in the Commandos Training School in Rentina, at Strovolos in Nicosia, Stavrovouni, the Ranger Camp and the Naval Base in Mari reflect the due recognition of his contribution and sacrifice in Cyprus and Greece. I consider even greater recognition to be the love and respect of his soldiers for Katsanis and the popular nickname given to him as "the eagle of Pentadaktylus".
General Katsani's sacrifice in defence against the Turkish invasion, in the summer of 1974, is an outstanding example of valour on the altar of defending the independence of our Cyprus, which comes to reinforce the struggles and sacrifices of the Cypriot Macedonian and Balkan gladiators in the first decades of the 20th century, in the battles and wars for the liberation of Macedonia. This common path of struggle and sacrifice will forever link, as an umbilical cord, the historical and deep connection between Cyprus and Macedonia.
The sacrifice of General Katsanis stands out among the heroic contribution of dozens of officers and soldiers from Greece and especially from Macedonia, who were killed defending Cypriot independence and integrity in the summer of 1974 at Pentadaktylos, on the shores of Kyrenia and in the plain of Mesaoria. To all of them, fallen and missing, we owe a debt of gratitude.
The family of General Katsanis, his wife Erifili, his daughters Lina and Evi and their families never hid their great love for Cyprus. They always honour with their presence the actions and events of both the Consulate General of Cyprus here in Thessaloniki and the very active Cypriot community of Thessaloniki in general.
With today's naming of the "Katsani Park", after a long joint effort with our friend the Mayor of Thessaloniki, another piece of due recognition by the Cypriot State of the greatness of the sacrifice of the late General Katsani is completed.
May his memory be eternal, and his example be a beacon that will guide us until the final vindication of our struggles, until the liberation and reunification of our country.
Thank you very much.
(PM/EP/MS)
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