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- Ελληνικά
With feelings of deepest gratitude and immense respect we came today to the Holy Church of Panagia Chryseleousa in Polemi, to celebrate the annual memorial service of the heroically fallen, during the execution of duty, residents of the community.
To pay tribute to those whose actions and sacrifice marked decisive moments in the history of our homeland, and whose blood watered the long-suffering Cypriot land, so that our own freedom could flourish.
Remembrance returns to the turbulent historical path of Cyprus, full of dangers and obstacles.
Remembrance returns to the turbulent historical path of Cyprus, full of dangers and obstacles. To the decades before and after the proclamation of the Republic of Cyprus, and to the crucial events that marked and marked the subsequent course and development of our homeland and our people.
We turn our thoughts to the period of the British colonial occupation of Cyprus. Then, in the first half of the 20th century, when the cataclysmic events in the international arena and the growing anti-colonial climate fed the unquenchable desire of Cypriots for self-determination and union with Greece and led to the epic liberation struggle of EOKA, which in 1959 was destined to make Cyprus free and independent.
After the Cypriots' shocking struggle against the all-powerful British imperial force, with the Zurich-London agreements of 1960, Cyprus acquired a donor Constitution, the provisions of which proved to contain heterogeneous discrimination and caused serious difficulties and difficulties for the proper functioning of the newly established Cypriot state. The weaknesses of the Cyprus Constitution caused constant friction between the two communities.
Turkey, which was given the role of a guarantor power, immediately after the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus, began to implement its dichotomous plans on the island.
By Christmas 1963, the problems in the smooth functioning of the state greatly aggravated the atmosphere and the situation internally was on the verge of "explosion". The armed conflicts, which began in Nicosia and spread to other cities, dramatically worsened relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Despite the fact that after the '63 intercommunal riots and the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriots from state positions, the UN Security Council, on 4 March 1964, adopted a resolution recognizing the existence of the Republic of Cyprus, the conflicts continued because Turkey's first and main goal of the dissolution of the Cypriot state had not been achieved. Turkey did not retreat from its expansionist ambitions and sought at all costs to destabilise the normal functioning of the State by creating a fait accompli in all the cities of Cyprus.
In the following period of time, until the summer of 1964, its efforts were focused on the creation of a bridgehead in the Kokkina - Mansoura enclave.
This dangerous situation led to the mobilization of the Cypriot armed forces, with the then newly formed National Guard leading the way, with the aim of eliminating the bridgehead. On 8 and 9 August, Tillyria was ruthlessly attacked by the all-armed Turkish forces. This culminated in the merciless bombardment of the wider area by the Turkish air force.
"At 2 o'clock in the afternoon", the Press and Information Office announced on 9 August, "[...] Turkish aircraft attacked the Pomo Hospital, two hospital cars in the village and this village. The Turkish aircraft fired rockets and incendiary bombs and firebombed the civilians. [...] The village is now abandoned. The only signs of life are the groans of the wounded and the cries of the animals around them."
Nurses and National Guardsmen who were being treated in the hospital, which was completely destroyed, died horribly.
The Turkish air raids of 9 August left the community of Polemio in black and mourning for nine of its children.
Dimitris Mavrogenous, a doctor by profession, who fell offering his medical services to the Health Platoon in the makeshift hospital that was developed in Pachyammos.
Andreas Lardos, one of the paramedics of the Volunteer Company of Polemio. Andreas, who was working as a teacher, on August 9, went to the hospital and was placed under the command of his namesake doctor, in charge of the makeshift hospital.
Twenty-five-year-old Andreas Michael, corporal of the Polemio Volunteer Company, eighteen-year-old volunteers Telemachos Christodoulou, Andreas Thucydides and Stefanos Zaloumis. Nineteen-year-old Giannakis Ioannidis and twenty-three-year-old Frixos Andreou.
Nineteen-year-old Nikos Polycarpou, who died a month later, was critically wounded there.
All of them young people, full of life, energy, desire to create, dreams for the future.
All of them, despite their young age, actively participated in the national rally in defense of the homeland, demonstrating boundless courage, self-denial, self-sacrifice, and selfless patriotism.
For, as the great Greek philosopher Aristotle suggests, young people prefer to do beautiful things rather than things that are in their own interest.
"[...] the one is the calculus of interest and the virtue of good [...]".
Because young people prefer to do what seems good rather than what is in their own interest.
Because the actions of young people are dictated by the heart and philanthropy rather than by cold logic.
Because young people's actions are dictated by the heart and philanthropy rather than by cold logic.
The lives of the spirited men of the Polemio we remember were guided more by moral rules than by personal interest and desire.
That is why the children of Polemio on August 9, faithful to the call of the fatherland, in the Kokkin - Mansoura operations, found themselves at the centre of the destructive frenzy caused by the bombs of the Turkish aircraft and fell heroically fighting for faith and country.
Together with those who, recognizing the mortal danger that their choice entailed, magnificently defied death, stood up and fought with vigour, we commemorate today Dimitrakis Ioannou.
Being only 14 years old in 1955, he participated in the struggle of EOKA, undertaking missions of leaflet distribution, message transmission, writing slogans on the walls, organizing demonstrations at school and participating in ambushes.
With the proclamation of democracy, he joined the ranks of the Cypriot Army with the rank of lieutenant and participated in the battles of Omorphita and Kokkina, among others. Dimitrakis Ioannou passed away suddenly on 10 January 1968.
Greeks, Greeks,
In 1964, the Cypriot Greeks put up a heroic resistance to prevent the attempt by Turkey to dissolve the state and partition the island.
The following years were followed by a grim decade in which the climate of civil strife and underground dark processes and machinations led to the nightmarish coup and betrayal of 15 July 1974 and the collapse of the Republic.
Five days later, on 20 July 1974, Turkey provocatively and brutally invaded Cyprus.
Its dichotomous plans, which had been averted with blood and pain a decade before, once again wounded the Cypriot land. The Greeks of Cyprus were again called upon to stand up against the supreme invader, to take up arms and defend the freedom and territorial integrity of their homeland.
Today, therefore, we honour Kostas Savvidis and Andreas Theodosiou, who as reservists fought with self-denial and self-sacrifice and fell heroically fighting on 22 July '74 in the battles of Polis Chrysochous.
We also honour Arrestis Sergiou, a policeman by profession, who was killed near the village of Androlikou on 22 August 1974, thus adding his name to the long list of memorable defenders of our homeland.
Ladies and gentlemen,
From this sacred place where we honour the sacrifice of the fallen of the community of Polemio, we bow to their indestructible forms and declare unequivocally that we will continue with the same faith and the same determination in the struggle to achieve our supreme national goal. The lifting of the occupation and the withdrawal of the Turkish army, which will pave the way for the liberation and reunification of our homeland.
This is where all the efforts of the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, are focused today. To break the prolonged deadlock and to create the conditions that will allow the resumption of the talks.
With a sincere willingness and through the process of talks, under the auspices of the UN, and with the more active involvement of the EU, we seek to finally reach an honourable, mutually acceptable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem.
With a sincere willingness and through the process of talks, under the auspices of the UN, and with the more active involvement of the EU, we seek to finally reach an honourable, mutually acceptable and workable solution to the Cyprus problem.
A solution that will remove the occupation and division of our homeland, abolish the anachronistic guarantees of third countries and allow our people to live in security, progress and prosperity under conditions of equality and equality of rights.
Almost half a century after the Turkish invasion of 1974, our people have proven that they cannot acquiesce and compromise with the achievements of the invasion and occupation.
We are determined with rationality, unity and unanimity to strive for a better future for our country and our people, in a free state in which peace, security and justice will prevail.
We owe it to our glorious ancestors, our children and future generations.
This is what the heroes we commemorate today and all those who gave their lives in all the struggles of our country call us to do.
Only in this way will we become worthy successors of their course.
Eternal be the memory and glory that accompanies the heroically fallen of the Community of Polemio. May our prayers for the fate of all our missing be answered by the Most High.
Thank you.
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