-
.
- Ελληνικά
It is with feelings of deep emotion, immense pride and special honour that I am here with you today. Inevitably, this year, 50 years after the brutal Turkish invasion of 1974, everyone's memory inexorably and inevitably returns again with pain to the most painful events in modern Cypriot history. Since then, Turkey has occupied about 40% of our territories, violating the principles of International Law and the relevant United Nations Resolutions.
Today, we commemorate the memory of worthy children of the Lady, who fell in battle defending the homeland. We also honor those residents of the community who were brutally and unprovoked murdered and we pray for the fate of two of our missing compatriots.
The heroes we honor today are Christakis Christofi, Charalambos Theologou, Kostakis Pami, Konstantinos Kypris, Savvas Kulluros, Andreas Panagis and Ioannis Harilaou. All of them young people, full of dreams and ambitions for the future, some of them left behind a wife and young children, while others are still missing. It is worth mentioning that several of the heroes who are honoured today had a remarkable contribution to the Athletic Spiritual Club of Kyra (APOK), either as members or as athletes.
However, we must not forget the citizens of Kyra who were murdered in 1974: Theodora Vassiliou, Vassilis Georgiou, Theotis Christofis and Andreas Tsangaris. At this point I should mention that the fate of the citizens Georgios Christofis and Georgios Ioannou is still unknown.
Christakis Christofis, son of Panagiota and Savvas Christofis, nurtured from his adolescence with the ideals of freedom and philanthropy, joined the Alkimo Youth of EOKA. In 1964 he found himself in the battles of Tylliria, to serve our country. In 1974 he worked at the Technical Services of CYTA. At that time CYTA, in consultation with the army, invited all employees to go to the headquarters in Nicosia to provide telecommunication services to the Cyprus Army. In the line of duty, Christakis Christofis was mortally wounded by mortar shrapnel.
Charalambos Theologou, son of Panagiota and Theologou Tampa, entered the trade at the age of 14 as an apprentice bricklayer. In 1964 he joined the National Guard as a commando and also took part in the battles of Tillaria. Ten years later, in 1974, again responding to the call of his country, he went with his Battalion to Kyrenia to protect Karavas and Lapithos. On 6 August, in the midst of a ceasefire, the Turkish forces surrounded them. After hours of fighting, it is estimated that Charalambos was killed in the evening of the same day at the Battle of Lapithos. His remains were recovered and identified by DNA.
Kostakis Pami, son of Vassilou and Andreas Pami, served in the National Guard in 1973. In 1974, together with his fellow soldiers, he went to Kyrenia to protect Karavas and Lapithos. It is estimated that he was killed in action on the evening of 6 August in the battle of Lapithos. His remains were found after 36 years in a mass grave and were identified by DNA.
Konstantinos Kypri, son of Eudokia and Konstantinos Kypri, in 1974 joined the 316th CP as a reservist based in Syrianochori. During the second advance of the Turkish troops towards the small town of Morphou, his Battalion retreated irregularly. He hid in a relative's house in Agridaki, where the Turkish Cypriot villagers betrayed him to the Turkish invaders when the village was captured by Attila's forces. He was arrested on 16/08/1974 and his fate was unknown until 2019. His remains were found between the villages of Agridaki and Zodia and were identified by DNA.
Andreas Panagi, son of Paraskevi and Panagi Kyriakou, and Ioannis Harilaou, son of Persephone and Charilaou Solea, also participated in the battle of Lapithos on 6 August 1974.
Andreas Panagi, son of Paraskevi and Panagi Kyriakou, and Ioannis Harilaou, son of Persephone and Charilaou Solea, also participated in the battle of Lapithos on 6 August 1974. Unfortunately, however, their fate has been unknown ever since.
Savvas Kouloulouros, son of Marianna and Nikola Koulouros, enlisted in 1974 as a reserve captain on the radar of Kormakitis. In early August he was transferred to the 420th Airfield Protection Unit at Aronas to protect the Tymnos airfield. Around mid-August he received an order with another colleague to go on patrol with a military vehicle to the Tympos airport, which was under the protection of his unit. Since then, his fate has been unknown.
Greeks,
The fact is that we are at a critical juncture in our history. We have a duty to remain united and committed to our goal, which is none other than the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions. The appointment and assumption of the duties of the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy for Cyprus is a milestone in the efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. I would like to stress that our side will do everything humanly possible to end the Turkish occupation and reunify our homeland. Our vision is a united, free and democratic Cyprus, where all its legitimate inhabitants live and interact in a modern state that respects and guarantees the human rights and security of all its citizens.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate the Board of Directors of the Kyra Sports and Spiritual Club for organizing today's event, as well as all the organizations that contributed to the realization of this event. Actions and events such as today's are the cornerstone for the preservation of historical memory and contribute to the cultivation of philanthropy.
(NYAN/EATH)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
