It is with deep emotion that we are here today, at the unveiling of the bust of the hero Lieutenant Commander Georgios Melifronidis, to pay due honor with due respect to another hero who gave his life in the line of duty, carrying out in full the mission assigned to him.
The bust of Lieutenant Georgios Melifronidis, which we will unveil today, is the minimum tribute to the heroically fallen during the operations against the Turkish invader in the black summer of 1974. To the brave Ranger who, with a spirit of self-denial and courage, ran willingly to duty and stood against the enemy, giving his life as a libation on the holy altar of the freedom of our homeland.
In 1974, soldiers of the National Guard and ELDYK units watered the sacred soil with their blood and signed the practical proof of the heroic continuity of Hellenism on our island. Among them are the legendary Commando Units that demonstrated unparalleled heroism and bravery and wrote pages of glory and unparalleled courage in gold letters. Our green-skinned National Guardsmen, faithful to their ancestral legacies, fighting under the glorious banner of the Commandos, with the "Dare to Nika" sealed in their hearts, defied death despite the obviously superior enemy forces and put into practice Homer's "Auletos moi νόστος, atar kleos aftiton esta", i.e.
Georgios Melifronidis was born on 7 May 1955 in the village of Orouda in the Nicosia district. His parents relocated to Famagusta in 1958. He attended successively the primary school of Agia Aikaterini and later the Technical School of Famagusta. Alongside his school obligations he was intensively involved in sports, as a footballer for Anorthosis Famagusta. Later, during his military service he was a football player of the Lapithos Athletic Club.
He enlisted in July 1973 at the Famagusta Recruit Training Centre and due to his natural talents and strong will he was selected for the Commando Forces. He underwent his basic training at the Commando Unit Training Centre in Tymbou and on 15 September he was selected as a Reserve Officer Candidate, when he was transferred to the Infantry Reserve Officers School in Polemidia, Limassol. He graduated from the SEAP on 2 February 1974 and was posted as a Cadet Officer to the 32nd Commando Squadron at Agios Chrysostomos. After completing training in Special Forces programs he was assigned to the 31st Strike Company, 33rd Commando Squadron, based at Pella Pais.
On the day of the 1974 Turkish invasion, the Commando Squadrons were ordered to implement Plan "Tweezers", which provided for the occupation of the Ayrta crossing, in order to prevent the fusion of the beachhead of the landing forces with the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kioneli. As an officer, Georgios Melifronidis led a section during the night attack on Agios Hilarion, which was a complete success.
Two days later, the 31st Company, commanded by the heroic Lieutenant Nikolaos Katounta, was ordered to advance to the area of St. George of Kyrenia, with the mission of intercepting the Turkish forces that were attempting to reinforce and expand the established bridgehead. The fight turned into an unequal but thrilling battle against the Turkish forces who had succeeded in landing a large number of tanks and armoured vehicles. The legendary longeurs conducted an epic fight in all directions, demonstrating unparalleled bravery and valour.
On the altar of duty, at the new Thermopylae, sixty-nine officers and privates of the cruisers fell or are still missing today, including the brave Lieutenant Georgios Melifronidis.
Greeks,
Paying tribute to all those who sacrificed themselves for the homeland is an imperative duty for a tested people who were forcibly expelled from their homes and properties and have been under constant threats for 48 years from the Turkish conqueror. The reminder of the sacrifices of the protagonists in the struggles of our homeland strengthens the spirit and the will to continue the struggle until the final vindication.
We remain firmly committed to the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the EU. We declare to the international community our readiness to resume talks through a sincere dialogue in order to reach an agreed and just solution for the reunification of our homeland.
Unfortunately, however, the current leadership of Ankara is taking an intransigent stance based on its new revisionist policy with neo-Ottoman ambitions, thus violating every concept of International Law.
Turkey's new illegal actions by opening another part of the beach in the enclosed city of Famagusta constitute a highly unacceptable provocation.
Turkey's new illegal actions by opening another part of the beach in the enclosed city of Famagusta constitute a highly unacceptable provocation.
Turkey's new illegal actions by opening another part of the beach in the enclosed city of Famagusta constitute a highly unacceptable provocation. As a Government, we will never stop fighting with every diplomatic means in order to deal effectively with the Turkish provocations.
It is a national duty and obligation of all of us to fight with all our forces, united, to prevent the acts of invasion and occupation in order to achieve liberation, peace, security and prosperity in the land we were born and stood up to defend in order to be worthy of our heroes.
Honour and glory to Georgios Melifronidis, honour and glory to the immortal lads who gave their lives for the supreme good of the freedom of our Cyprus. Their memory will be eternal and honoured.
(IK)
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