Today is a double anniversary for Hellenism. As Christians, we commemorate the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, while as Greeks we commemorate the National Regression of 1821.
I would first like to thank the Municipality of Idali for the honorary invitation to be here today in the solemn Metropolitan Church of Panagia Evangelistria of Idali to deliver the solemn speech of the day for the national anniversary of March 25. It is truly a great honour and a great thrill to be the speaker on such a day in the place where I was born, where I grew up and live with my family.
The Municipality of Idali celebrates the two holidays with pomp and circumstance as befits the occasion. On such days, the mind and thought go back to the most intimate moments of Hellenism.
The anniversary of 1821 is a beacon and a signpost for the younger generations. The militancy and will of the people of Greece changed their historical destiny. The lessons of the struggles of Hellenism are shining examples.
Agia Lavra gave the signal and the banner of the Revolution quickly covered the entire Peloponnese, Eastern Sterea and the islands of Greece. Everywhere the elite of the race were present, ordinary and everyday people, who managed to embody its ideals to the highest degree.
Paleon Patron Germanos, Kolokotronis, Karaiskakis and Nikitaras, Papaflessas, Diakos at Alamana and Androutsos at the Hani of Gravia, Karaiskakis at Arachova, the torchbearer Kanaris, Andreas Miaoulis, Bouboulina and Manto Mavrogenous and other known and unknown fighters wrote pages of glory.
An entire nation chose an hour of free life. The revolution of 1821 was a nationwide uprising, a nationwide struggle.
From the flowery corsetry to the sun-kissed seas, the nation responded as a whole. The Greek asked the impossible beyond all reason, with faith and stubbornness. And the miracle happened: the impossible became possible. 21 is a miracle, a masterpiece, it is the beginning of a struggle that defied numbers.
Cyprus embodied the messages of 21 with the brilliant epic of 55-59 which we will also commemorate in a few days. The hidden spark of freedom came alive with the first explosions heard at midnight on 31 March to 1 April. It was the night when the irrevocable decision of the generation of '55-59 to live longer was made known to the whole world.
The Cypriot youth was the first to respond to the national call, writing glorious pages of militancy. The young people of Cyprus, baptized in the name of the tribe, joined Chief Digenis on the path of honour, seeking freedom in the mountains and gullies.
Greeks,
Today, history is being written at a very fast pace. For weeks now we have been witnessing the sad events unfolding in Ukraine and the drama faced by our fellow human beings. Our minds and thoughts are there.
Where there is an unconscionable violation of international law, where the law of the strong prevails. What is happening in Ukraine with the Russian invasion is no different from what we experienced in our martyred homeland in 1974. Dead, missing, refugees.
The wounds of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus are still open. Our homeland remains divided and the abomination of the invader at Pentadaktylos continues to remind us of our debt to future generations.
Almost 48 years later and we still seek vindication.
Turkey with its behaviour and provocative actions both at sea and on land is undermining efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
The government is taking all appropriate measures through diplomatic channels to try to find a way to restart the talks which will bring the much desired result.
The position of the Greek Cypriot side is clear. Finding a solution to the Cyprus problem that meets the parameters of the UN Security Council resolutions and is in line with the European acquis.
Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side put forward the unacceptable position of creating two states in Cyprus. Turkey's stance, accompanied by a series of new violations of international law, prevents the prospect of resuming a fruitful dialogue.
Turkey's long-standing objectives are none other than the definitive partition of Cyprus and the creation of a fully controlled, Turkish Cypriot so-called state.
The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, will resolutely continue his efforts to end the occupation and reunify our homeland, remaining committed to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, international law and the European acquis.
The UN Secretary General, in his report of 9 July 2021, explicitly states that "the Security Council has made clear in many resolutions over fifty years that there is only one sovereign state on the island of Cyprus".
A few days later, the President of the Security Council, following a Cyprus-specific session, stressed that the body "reaffirms its commitment to a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement in accordance with the wishes of the Cypriot people and based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions".
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The message of 25 March is more relevant today than ever before.
We Greeks can only be great under conditions of unity and brotherhood.
Let us listen to the words of Kolokotronis: "It remains for us to equalize and adorn the land with the foundations of the state, unity, religion and prudent freedom."
Let us listen to the words of Kolokotronis: "It remains for us to equalize and adorn the land with the foundations of the state, unity, religion and prudent freedom."
Let us listen to the words of Kolokotronis.
Our priority and pursuit remains the reunification of our homeland and the securing of peace, prosperity and stability for all its lawful inhabitants: Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins.
Achieving the above requires a climate of unity and unanimity, far from conflicts and divisive syndromes.
Only in this way can we say that we have learned lessons from our history and justified the sacrifices of our heroes.
We must work responsibly so that we can overcome all kinds of problems, leading our country forward as a promise for future generations, who have every right to hope for a better and more prosperous future. This, after all, is what the voice of duty to our heroes dictates. This is our historical debt to the departed and future generations of the Greeks of Cyprus.
Long live the heroic 21!
Happy Birthday.
(PM/NG/EXP)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
