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- Ελληνικά
It is with feelings of special emotion that I participate in today's event, in the established gathering of the Morphites, here we proclaim our unwavering demand for an end to the occupation and the reunification of our homeland, here where Morphites assert their unwavering faith and readiness to fight until the blessed day of return to their ancestral homes, here where the entire people of Cyprus for 49 years have been sending the message that they will not turn away from the struggle, they will not stop demanding the safeguarding of human rights and basic freedoms for all Cypriot citizens.
We are here today to reiterate, and we will do so until final vindication, that Morphou, like every inch of our occupied land, is non-negotiable. This is our duty, mine personally, that of the State, and of all of us in general, not only towards our historical legacies, but towards our refugees and our missing persons, towards the future of our land, towards our children who have the right to live in a united and peaceful homeland.
We have a debt, then, a heavy debt from which, however, we do not have the right to turn away. And be assured that we will continue the struggle, despite the difficulties, the challenges, the frustrations. Rest assured that Turkish intransigence will not discourage us, will not lead us to end our efforts. Be assured that our goal remains to secure the peaceful and free future of the entire Cypriot people.
For us, for the entire Cypriot people, for all Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the present unacceptable state of affairs cannot be the solution to the Cyprus problem, it cannot be the future of our homeland. This abnormal state of affairs that we are experiencing today does not in any way offer the security that we as a state ought to offer our citizens, the security that characterises a European state, a member state of the EU.
And as we are reminded by yesterday's events which, unfortunately, are continuing in neighbouring Israel, there are no frozen conflicts, there are no frozen crises, as it is customary to say, and we see in the most tragic way what is unfolding in neighbouring Israel and I express the full support of the Republic of Cyprus to the friendly country of Israel, hoping that soon those initiatives will be taken so that all that we see on our televisions will stop.
Beloved Morphou is the living historical marker of our land, from its name to its natural beauty and the wondrous culture that its people have carved out over the centuries. From its divine beauty, comparable to Aphrodite from whom it takes its name, and the Laconians who first colonized it and transmitted the sacred principles of love for the land, perseverance and agility, to its inhabitants who have excelled to the ends of the earth, Morphou is the cradle of culture, natural beauty, but also agility, which even today sparks the hope and desire to return. A desire that is forged every year here, with the anti-colonial march, every day with the concern for the homeland and the return to our beloved Morphou.
The presence of all of us here today sends once again a single clear message: we are fighting and will continue to do so until we vindicate all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, European citizens who do not need guarantors, do not need occupation troops and interventionist rights in their future and in their lives, they do not need them in their homeland.
A few meters from the fertile lands of the small town of Morphou, a few meters from where you once with your toil and love cultivated its fertile land, 49 years after the tragic summer of 1974, we stand, with full awareness of our responsibility, to lead the events with courage to break the deadlock, to resume the talks and to make a new effort to solve the Cyprus problem.
I am absolutely convinced of the necessity of a solution, of ending the current state of affairs, and, therefore, for me there is no other choice but to try to find a way out of even the most difficult issues before us. Within the framework of our approach, which is recognised and supported by the international community, the aim is to create a mutually beneficial situation for all parties involved in the Cyprus problem. It is for this very reason that in addition to the United Nations Organization, in the framework of which the negotiation process is taking place, we are today activating much more the European factor, the European institutions and strong EU states, which can help us in our efforts.
I am ready, taking into account Ankara's wishes for positive developments in the full range of Euro-Turkish relations, to discuss such a perspective in the context of the resumption of substantive talks for the resolution of the Cyprus problem. I am here, determined to take bold but beneficial decisions, disregarding any political costs. Decisions that will lead to the reunification of our homeland, to the resolution of the Cyprus problem.
I want to use today's opportunity to send the message that we must all together unitedly aim for this success, without antagonisms among us, barren confrontations and approaches that serve or aim to serve, unfortunately, other agendas.
Personally, all this does not interest me, it is not on my political agenda and I will not get involved in such public debates and public dialogues. My goal is clear, I have no doubt whatsoever, I have a clear plan and planning, perseverance and patience and in this effort I ask, my friend Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, for your support. The support of all those who truly believe in a reunited homeland, a reunited state, a member state of the EU, which will make full use of the prospects that exist in the wider region.
As you know, I was in Spain, where I participated in the Informal European Council, and I must say that what I have heard is in the right direction, it is in this framework that has been expressed since the first day of my election and our own effort, and possibly in the very near future we will also hear public announcements on the part of the United Nations, on the part of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such a development, the appointment of a person who will explore the prospects for the resumption of talks, will be a first development in the right direction which, if the appropriate political will is shown, can lead to more general positive developments for all parties involved in the Cyprus problem. I want to reiterate that I am ready for such a direction.
And in this context, I would like to report to you that late yesterday afternoon, in response to a request from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Republic of Cyprus has given its consent to the appointment of a person on the part of the United Nations who, yes, will explore the prospect of resuming the talks.
I will conclude, then, by reiterating something which I consider to be a necessary condition in our efforts to reunite our country. In order to achieve all that we envision, in order to achieve the lifting of the deadlock and the resumption of the talks that will lead us to the resolution of the Cyprus problem, in order to be able to prevent any new fait accompli, the existence of a strong domestic front is an absolute prerequisite. Especially at this crucial juncture. And I say this, not as a catchy slogan or something we used to say every year at this anti-Cypriot event, but as a historical necessity at a particular juncture for the Cyprus problem.
Morphou, like our other occupied parts, is patiently enduring our struggles and efforts to thrive and as long as it endures us, we have no right to be bent by obstacles, difficulties, frustrations, serving other expediencies. All of us who believe in the necessity to liberate and reunite our land, united, will continue the struggle for the reunification and freedom of our Morphos, our Cyprus.
(PM/MB)
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