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- Ελληνικά
It is with feelings of deepest emotion that I accepted your invitation to attend the commemoration of the black anniversaries of the coup and the Turkish invasion of 1974. This year marks the darkest point in the history of our Cyprus, as it is 50 years since the tragic days of the summer of 1974 that were to mark indelibly the lives of all Cypriots.
Half a century later, the Cypriot people are still experiencing the consequences of the occupation and the violation of the human rights and freedoms of all legal residents of Cyprus. Half a century later, refugees remain far from their homeland. Half a century later, our cultural heritage is being plundered and destroyed. Half a century later, the relatives of the missing are waiting patiently for the fate of their loved ones to be determined. Half a century later, Cypriots everywhere remember our lost children.
July 1974 has marked the history of our long-suffering Cyprus. The civil strife that dominated the previous years led to division and allowed Turkey to implement its plan for Cyprus. In the face of Turkish expansionism, the Cypriot people stood up in defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country. In these difficult moments for the Cypriot Hellenism, our Greek brothers turned and fought side by side with the Cypriots, sealing with their sacrifice the indissoluble bonds between the two peoples.
At 8:20 in the morning of 15 July and at 5:30 in the morning of 20 July, the eerie, deafening sound of the sirens will sound again in every corner of Cyprus, reminding us of the violent uprooting and the horrors of those dramatic days. The sound of the sirens will bring back to our memory our beloved people who were killed in an unholy and unequal war. It is a reminder of our historical responsibility towards those who selflessly performed their duty to their homeland in full, offering what was most precious to them, their very lives, for the defence of the high principles of Hellenism, independence and freedom. The humanitarian issue of the missing persons is the most tragic aspect of the Turkish invasion. A drama that dozens of families in Cyprus and Greece have experienced and are still experiencing. For the Nicos Christodoulides Government, determining the fate of all our missing persons remains a priority. With the same sensitivity, we continue our efforts and take initiatives, in consultation with the relatives of the missing persons, for the final resolution of this humanitarian aspect of our national issue, despite the obstacles and the refusal of the other side to cooperate.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The diplomatic efforts of the Greek Cypriot side to make progress on the Cyprus problem have been met with the provocative attitude of the Turkish side. Since assuming the government of the country, the President of the Republic has been taking targeted and concrete steps that will lead the two sides to dialogue, with the sole aim of finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, within the framework set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and in accordance with the principles and values of the European Union and international law.
We are at an important moment in the course of the Cyprus problem. The feverish processes and consultations of the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy are underway and we await the results. The President's position is firm and clear, despite Turkey's provocative and irrelevant claims for a two-state solution. For the Greek Cypriot side, the European Union and the international community, there is no acceptable form of solution other than a bizonal bicommunal federation.
The provocative attitude and rhetoric and the climate that the Turkish side is methodically cultivating will not weaken our will to return to the talks. We expect Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to abandon their excessive and out-of-context demands and enter the dialogue in a constructive spirit so that we can reach the desired outcome, which is none other than the reunification of the country and its people.
Our side remains committed and continues the struggle, with our compass being the achievement of a just, functional and viable solution, which will safeguard the interests of the Hellenic Cypriots and the promising future of new generations, in conditions of security, prosperity and stability.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Fifty years later and while the tragic consequences persist, no one forgets and no one is forgotten. The preservation of our collective historical memory and the shaping of our future will only be achieved through a true knowledge of our past and our history. It is our duty, with unity and unanimity, to draw lessons from the consequences brought about by any civil conflicts of our people. The challenges before us are many and great. That is why we need collectivity and consensus to overcome any obstacles that may stand in our way.
Distinguished guests,
Today we honour the memory of those who put their lives on the line and with unparalleled courage, daring and heroism, defying the superiority of the enemy, declared themselves "present" in the struggle and fell for freedom and democracy in Cyprus.
Today we honour the memory of those who put their lives on the line and with unparalleled courage, daring and heroism, defying the superiority of the enemy, declared themselves "present" in the struggle and fell for freedom and democracy in Cyprus.
We pay the highest tribute, accepting our historical responsibility to end the present situation and the ongoing state of affairs on the island. We have an obligation to justify their sacrifice by defending the rights and rights of our people. We remain committed to our primary objective of reunification of our homeland. Only in this way will we create the Cyprus of peace and progress that we envision.
Eternal be the memory of our heroic dead.
(MKY)
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