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"Honor to those who in their lives
set out to guard Thermopylae.
Never moved by debt."
Inspired by the words of our great poet Constantine Cavafy, the two lads of Yolos, Savvas Antoniadis of Chrysanthos and Takis Christodoulou of Panagiotis, stood with unparalleled bravery against the superiority of the Turkish invader, during those tragic days of July 1974, fighting for altars and hearths, in order to defend their native lands.
Responding to the call of the homeland, Savvas, Takis and all the young people of Cyprus took up arms and stood up to Attila's invaders. With self-denial, with courage and bravery they threw themselves into the fight for freedom. They defied the numbers, they defied the sheer superiority of the enemy. In a titanic struggle on the one hand, betrayed on the other.
50 years after the tragic summer of 1974, the memories have not faded. The wounds remain unhealed and our historical debt for liberation is non-negotiable.
Remembering the heroes and martyrs of the brutal Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, we keep the memories alive while proclaiming that we do not forget, do not rest and do not give an inch of land to the invaders. We owe it to Savvas, Takis and all our fellow citizens, men, women and children, who stood proudly, proudly and valiantly against Attila.
Savvas Antoniades was born in Yolou, Paphos on 16 August 1951. He attended the Yolou Primary School and then the Nicosia Technical School where he graduated in June 1969. In September 1969 he enrolled at the Technological School in Thessaloniki in the Department of Mechanical Engineering from which he graduated in December 1971. In January 1972 he joined the National Guard and was assigned to 187 MP in Athalassa. He was discharged from the National Guard in January 1974. In the same month he was employed by METALCO until July 1974.
With the beginning of the Turkish invasion, on 20 July 1974, he joined the 187 MP as a reservist and took part in combat operations with the squadron in the area of Athalassa Gerolakkou.
At the beginning of the Turkish invasion, on 20 July 1974, he joined the 187 MP as a reservist and took part in combat operations with the squadron in the area of Athalassa Gerolakkou. At the beginning of the second phase of the Turkish invasion he reported to the Police Station at Paphos Gate. He remained in the Paphos Gate area where he fought with 336 T.P. until 16 August 1974. On 16 August 1974 he was transferred with eight other comrades-in-arms to an outpost in the "Pallukia" area of Agios Pavlos-Lekosia. He fell heroically fighting when his Outpost was hit by the Turkish invasion troops on 17 August 1974.
The remains of Savvas, like so many other heroes, were buried without any recognition in the cemetery of Lakatamia. His remains were later identified by the DNA method. His funeral was held in his hometown of Yolou on Saturday, April 8, 2006.
The missing Takis Christodoulou was born and raised in Yolou. At the age of 18 he joined the ranks of the National Guard to fulfill his military obligations. After his basic training he was assigned to the 251 TP which was based in Kyrenia. The brutal Turkish invasion of July 1974 found him on the front line. At the start of the invasion on 20 July and while his unit was still in camp he was bombed by the enemy air force, resulting in a head injury and was taken to hospital in Nicosia where he was given First Aid. However, showing maximum self-denial, he returned back to the Kyrenia area to defend his homeland.
During the second phase of the Turkish invasion, on 14 August 1974, Takis Christodoulou, together with his comrades-in-arms, found himself in the Koutsoventi area and then ended up in the village of Voni, which had been occupied by the Turks, at the house of Mrs. Froso Dimou.
On the morning of 15 August, armed Turkish Cypriots appeared outside the house and started shooting. As soon as the shooting stopped the 35 soldiers surrendered to the armed Turkish Cypriots. Along with them 10 civilians surrendered. All those captured were led on foot by the Turkish Cypriots in the direction of the Turkish village of Epicho and their fate has been unknown ever since.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our missing persons are undoubtedly the most tragic aspect of the tragedy of 1974. Despite the obstacles constantly put up by the Turkish side, which over the years has refused to cooperate and provide accurate and sufficient evidence, we will not stop struggling for a moment until the final resolution of this humanitarian problem.
I want to assure you that we are determined to devote all our efforts to finding out the fate of the last missing person. We owe this especially to their relatives, many of whom have already passed away with unanswered questions about the fate of their own people.
Compatriots,
Fifty years after the barbaric Turkish invasion, the liberation and reunification of our homeland remains our unchanging goal. With determination and faith in our justice, always consistent with the principles of a solution to the Cyprus problem, we hope that Turkish intransigence will finally be overcome and we will return to the negotiating table.
The President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Christodoulides has presented credentials of sincerity and determination to resume the talks, taking concrete initiatives that will bring Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to the table. Despite the extreme and unacceptable positions of the Turkish Cypriot side, we will remain committed to our position to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation, as provided for in the UN resolutions.
A solution that provides for an end to the occupation, any foreign dependencies and settlement. A solution that provides for the reunification of the state, institutions and economy, for the restoration of human rights and basic freedoms for all our people. Anything less is clearly unacceptable.
Friends,
"The Greatness of peoples is not measured by the acre."
"The great Greek poet Kostis Palamas once said that it is measured by the fire of the heart and by the blood."
Our struggle is undoubtedly difficult and the debt is heavy. But we must take it on our shoulders with courage and determination and carry it through. To do justice to our people, our heroes, our trapped, our refugees, our missing.
(DK)
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