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- Ελληνικά
Today, I am here before you with a heavy but important task. I have to report to the occupied municipality of Lysis, and this task fills me with emotion and emotion. As a public expression, speech can and must try to reflect the reality of this historic place, which has been through a lot, but still flourishes with the perseverance of return.
Today we also celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, an extremely important feast in the Christian calendar. On this feast, also called "Glorify my soul to the Lord", many faithful gather at the church of Our Lady of Lysia to participate in the services, pray and honor the Mother of God. Ecclesiastical ceremonies that during their duration created spiritual uplift and the need to communicate with "those above". The focal point of the sacred mystagogy was the moment at Mass when the bread and wine were transformed into the 'body and blood of Christ', so that through Holy Communion the faithful could connect with the metaphysical element 'for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life'. For 49 years the church - a marvel of Gothic architecture - has stood alone and proud, without bending to this day.
The geographical location of Lysis, between the urban centres of Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta, the good transport network, the development of industry and the profitable agricultural and livestock farming uses of the local land, have contributed to its rapid economic and population growth. Its character is also people-oriented and progressive, just like Athienou, where I come from, which is also a neighbour of Lysis. And I am sure that when the Mayor of Lyssis visits Athienou, he feels as if he is in his own place.
The Municipality of Lyssis is the third largest refugee municipality in Cyprus after Famagusta and Morphou with a population of more than nine thousand. Before 1974 it had many services, as well as an imposing hospital for the time to meet the medical needs, treatment and care of patients. Built since 1935, as a genuine result of the voluntary work of its inhabitants. In addition, Lyssi was home to various government agencies, educational institutions, a cooperative bank, recreation centres, sports clubs and associations.
Lyssi has always excelled in sports with the presence of well-known football clubs. And culturally, Lysi has offered and continues to offer a lot. Since 1918 the clubs have staged plays and maintained art and dance groups. The SYKALY band is still maintained today in the refugee camp, where it continues its activities. In poetry, it has several poets to its credit, with the poet Pavlos Liasidis, who wrote in the Cypriot dialect, leading the way. In addition, the music composer and principal cellist Yagos Souroullas had a Byzantine choir since 1918, which was very rare for the time. This choir has been preserved to this day.
The local community of Lysis, having deep community ties, is distinguished for its essential religious faith. Apart from the church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, there are several chapels in the area, the best known being that of Agios Efimianos. The chapel was decorated with frescoes dating back to the end of the 12th century. In 1985 Turkish antiquarians cut them down and transported them to Germany for sale. They were purchased by the De Menil Foundation in Texas. They were restored - conserved in London and transferred to the De Menil Foundation, where they were displayed in a chapel built to the same dimensions as the one in occupied Lysi. Other chapels that demonstrate the intense and substantial religiousness in Lysis are those of Agios Synesius, Agios Mamantos, Agios Georgios, etc.
Today, more than 8,500 Lysians live temporarily in the free areas of Cyprus. The existence and operation of the Municipality of Lysia in the free areas where it is temporarily based has a clear national and cultural character. Its activity is focused on keeping the memory of Lysis unquenched in the minds of every Lysiotian and beyond.
For 49 years, the tragic consequences of the ongoing Turkish occupation remain unchanged: The refugees, the missing, the trapped, the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cypriot people in general, are the irrefutable evidence of the ongoing international lawlessness against Cyprus.
Our historical responsibility is nothing less than to restore historical continuity in our land and in this way to ensure the future of Cypriot Hellenism on this island, as it was formed, established and remained so for thousands of years, bequeathing from generation to generation the principles and values of our ancestors, so that we can breathe the air of freedom.
From the first day he took office, President Nicos Christodoulides pointed out that the only way forward for us is the way of progress, cooperation and peace, the way of intensifying every effort to break the deadlock and to resume talks as soon as possible in order to achieve the longed-for liberation, the desired solution, the reunification of our country. That is why, moreover, a major diplomatic effort has been launched, aimed at mutual benefit for all parties involved.
President Christodoulides is working to achieve those developments that will turn the European citizens of Cyprus into first-class citizens and not second-class citizens, as they are today, since after so many years we are still deprived of basic human rights and basic freedoms in our own country.
The United Nations General Assembly in about ten days' time, as well as the European Council next October, are considered of decisive importance for the effort and the prospect of resuming the talks with the ultimate goal of mobilising the Cyprus issue.
Efforts for a solution on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, compatible with the principles and values of the European Union and the acquis communautaire are intensive and methodical. We seek a workable and viable solution that will finally make Cyprus a normal and functioning state. A state that allows all its legitimate citizens to live in conditions of prosperity, security, mutual respect and the application of human rights for all, without exceptions.
Dear compatriots.
Allow me, at this point, to congratulate the Municipality of Lysia for continuing its creative, fruitful and militant action, succeeding through initiatives and partnerships to unite the wonderful people of Lysia and to keep unquenched the desire to return to the ancestral lands. I congratulate the Mayor of Lysis himself, Mr. Andreas Kaouris, who even before taking office in 2017, with his inexhaustible faith and strength creates the conditions for the problem of Cyprus to become more widely known.
With my friend Andreas, we have worked together in the past and from my previous position as an officer at the University of Cyprus and as a journalist. With his ethos, decency, nobility of character, assertiveness, deep commitment to his duty and mission in the difficult conditions of uprooting and refugeeism, he leaves his own mark as a man and Mayor in the history of the refugee municipality of Lysis.
On behalf of the Government, allow me to thank the delegations of the twin cities of Lysis: Municipalities of Kilkis, Avdira and Lemnos, who with their presence today further strengthen our sacred and indissoluble ties and send the message that Greece and Cyprus are together in the struggle for the defence of our freedom and territorial integrity, for the rights of our people, for the vindication of the struggles and sacrifices of those who wrote their names in indelible letters in the Pantheon of our Immortals.
Just recently, the Municipality of Kilkis and the Municipality of Lysis honoured the hero of EOKA Gregory Afxentiou. This tribute to the 'Zider' of Cyprus was no accident. The Deputy Chief of EOKA is a symbol for all Hellenism. An example of bravery in the pantheon of heroes, since the courage and bravery he showed during the epic struggle, fighting with his fellow fighters against the British colonialists, undoubtedly place him among the immortals.
On the occasion of the presence here and the Municipality of Kilkis, allow me to briefly mention the great hero of EOKA who passed through their own region. Kyriakos Matsi, the Sector Chief of Kyrenia, who was a student of the Faculty of Agriculture, one of the first Cypriot graduates of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the only one of the EOKA martyrs with a university degree. He travelled all over the land of Macedonia, the border counties, from Kastoria to Drama, speaking and inspiring the inhabitants of the border regions, as well as the men of the military units. Matsi's studies in Thessaloniki connected him closely with Gregory Afxentios, who served as a second lieutenant in Macedonia for some years during the same period. Later Matsis also became associated with the Lyssiotes because of this relationship with Gregory Afxentios.
Greece for Afxentios and Matsis was their great love. So was their desire for the liberation of Cyprus from the colonial yoke. That is why both of them found themselves walking and fighting on the same road. They were betrayed, but they did not surrender. They decided to stare death in the face, consciously and patriotically. They sacrificed themselves on the altar of Freedom. Their bodies became a holocaust, but their honoured, lavish form remains a symbol of sanctity, a symbol of glory.
Eight other lads of Lysis gave their lives for their homeland during the EOKA Liberation Struggle of 1955-59. The heroic Lysis paid its own great price also during the Turkish Invasion in the black summer of 1974. Tragic account: seven war heroes, six are still missing, while another eleven were murdered in cold blood by the Turks.
Today we commemorate the "Day of Remembrance for Lysis" and with it we pay the minimum due tribute to all the heroes of Cyprus.
You, the people of Lysia, continue to give your own struggle to keep the memory alive and by extension express the desire to return to a free Solution, to a free homeland. It is the expectation of all of us, that holy day when the town will be revived and taste the joy of the creation of its inhabitants.
I again congratulate the Municipality of Lyssi as it always makes sure that the preservation of memory is high on its priorities. We are proud of the history and cultural heritage belonging to the people of Lysis and create events such as today's and various other programmes to keep this rich heritage intact in every respect.
Through cooperation, education and the promotion of culture, the people of Lysis continue undaunted to strengthen the link with the past, while ensuring that this past is passed on to the young people for a promising tomorrow.
Through cooperation, education and the promotion of culture, the people of Lysis continue undaunted to strengthen the link with the past, while ensuring that this past is passed on to the young people for a promising future. With love and respect they proceed as eternal guardians of our history and are a source of inspiration for future generations.
Thank you and I wish you all the best.
(PM/AF/EXP)
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