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It is with reverence and respect that we stand today at the Holy Church of Panagia Eleousa to honour the memory of the hero of the Community of Agros, Peter Eliades. I would like to convey the heartfelt greetings of the President of the Republic, who, due to prior commitments, could not be with us.
A true farmer, Petros Eliades was born in 1932, one of the six children of the respected and virtuous family of Elias Loukas and Panagiota Elias. Petros Eliades attended the primary school of Agros and then graduated from the Apex High School of Agros and worked in Nicosia as a grocer. With the ideals and values of Christianity guiding his path, he joined the Orthodox Christian Youth Union (OXEN) at an early age.
Then, with the beginning of the National Liberation Struggle, Peter's high patriotic feelings led him to join EOKA. His activity in the Organization was rich, indicative of his love for his homeland and its liberation. He joined the same group as the heroes Iakovos Patatsos and Panagiotis Georgiadis and, initially, offered his services in the field of enlightenment and in the concealment and movement of arms and correspondence. Subsequently, Petros contributed to the recruitment of new fighters and joined the Nicosia task forces.
On 14 June 1956, Petros managed to approach the post office of the then Metaxas Square, now Eleftherias Square, from an alleyway to carry out a bomb attack against the British. As he was about to detonate the bomb, he was spotted by British soldiers, who shot him with an automatic weapon, seriously wounding him. Critically wounded, Petros Eliades was taken to Nicosia General Hospital, where he underwent a lengthy operation. The doctors, despite their strenuous efforts, were unable to save him. He died on the morning of 15 June 1956. The land of his beloved Agros, the village that gave birth to him and raised him, welcomed him into its bowels. His thirst for freedom and independence led him to the Pantheon of Heroes, next to the heroes of 1821, along with Grigoris, Evagoras, Matsis, Patatsos, Lena and other brave men who defied the enemy and sacrificed their lives for our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sixty-eight years later, the sacrifice of Peter Eliades has not yet found justification. The 50-year-long occupation, the illegal invasion, the violation of international law, do not let us rest easy. Fifty years of exile is a long time. It is our duty to do everything possible to end the occupation of our homeland and to reunite all its legitimate inhabitants in a prosperous, peaceful and European country.
It is with this aim that the President of the Republic is working sincerely and persistently to overcome the obstacles set by the Turkish side and to create the conditions for the resumption of the talks for the resolution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework. The current state of affairs is not an option for the Greek Cypriot side.
Our efforts, despite the Turkish side's claims and demands to the contrary, will continue until we achieve our goal of resuming substantive talks, with the ultimate goal of reaching a final and just solution. A solution based on the principles and values of the European Union and international law, ending the illegal occupation and liberating our country. To this end, with goodwill, we are working with the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General to convince her of the justice of our demand and to bring us to the negotiating table.
Friends,
The drama that the Cypriot people have been experiencing for half a century must end. I assure you that our struggle will continue, with targeted and concrete actions, with commitment to International and European Law. Our desire for the liberation of our homeland guides our steps on the road paved 68 years ago by the hero of Agros, Petros Eliades. We are convinced, as were all the EOKA veterans, that our struggle will bring the desired result: the reunification of our country and our people, the determination of the fate of our missing persons, the restoration of the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Cypriots.
At this critical juncture for the Cyprus problem, we draw strength from the fighting spirit of Peter Eliades and the other heroes of Cypriot Hellenism.
At this critical juncture for the Cyprus problem, we draw strength from the fighting spirit of Peter Eliades and the other heroes of Cypriot Hellenism. Its struggle illuminates the path to vindication and reunification. We have a duty to our children to deliver to them a united, prosperous and free homeland. Our duty to the heroic figure of Peter Eliades also dictates this.
Honor and glory to the hero Peter Eliades! May the glory that accompanies him be eternal!
(MKY)
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