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- Ελληνικά
Today marks four decades since that very sad day when the Attiles, culminating in a crescendo of violations of international law, in which they indulged especially after the brutal Turkish invasion of 1974, established an illegal formation in the occupied territories of our homeland.
Undoubtedly, the declaration of the pseudo-state in 1983 was part of a wider plan to legitimise the achievements of the illegal occupation. A design that defiantly ignores UN resolutions 541 and 550 and EU principles and values. A strategy that disregards the appeals of the international community and flouts international law. And it is for all these reasons that we are here to state the obvious, the fact that the pseudo-state, as a product of flagrant violation of international law, as a product of the illegal Turkish invasion and continued occupation, cannot be an element of the viable solution we seek.
We therefore reiterate, today, once again, our demand and claim for the entire Cypriot people, for the Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Latins and Maronites, the reunification of our homeland without the weights of division, dependence and guardianship by any third party.
We therefore reiterate, today, our demand and claim for the entire Cypriot people, for the Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Latins and Maronites, the reunification of our homeland without the weights of division, dependence and guardianship by any third party.
Our struggle for the annulment of the consequences of the invasion, for the liberation and reunification of our homeland is not limited to the vindication of the Cypriot people. The outcome of our struggle reflects on the international community itself, which has an obligation to protect the highest principles of law, as it rightly does in similar cases we are experiencing today with the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is no different from the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the international community, which has the responsibility to protect the freedom of peoples against those of every nature and worship, who are malicious and usurpers.
Despite the fact that almost half a century has passed, this struggle is not in vain. The Cypriot people have shown unparalleled resilience in the struggle against the persistent Turkish pursuit for the degradation and dissolution of the Republic of Cyprus, for the upgrading of the illegal entity in the occupied areas.
The Republic of Cyprus is the shield and the spear of our people. As a full and equal member of the EU since 2004, our country is a creative partner contributing, always within its capabilities, to the great challenges of our time.
And you are well aware that these days in our neighbourhood, unfortunately, dramatic events are taking place with what is happening in Israel and Gaza. No doubt, the eyes of the international community, as well as those of our people, are on the Middle East.
At this crucial juncture, therefore, the Republic of Cyprus, the most valuable thing we have, taking advantage of its key geopolitical and geostrategic position, its excellent diplomatic relations with both Israel and the Arab world, with which we are solidly linked, long-standing ties, and as an EU member neighbouring the region, it is attempting to play an active role, I repeat always within its capabilities, in international efforts to create humanitarian corridors to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
We want our country to have a substantial contribution to the response to major crises such as the one unfolding in the region, we want to be a bridge of peace and cooperation, to be in practice a factor of security and stability. And one may wonder why I am mentioning all this at an event to condemn the declaration of the pseudo-state 40 years ago. Because it is through such initiatives that we also enhance the international standing of our country, the Republic of Cyprus, which is our most important shield in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.
I have the strong, strong conviction that there are two factors that contributed decisively to the survival of the Hellenic Cypriots after the devastation of 1974, after the destruction brought about by the Turkish invasion and the continued occupation for so many years: on the one hand, the preservation and strengthening of the Republic of Cyprus - this is why I very often repeat that our most important external success was our accession to the EU in 2004, older people will remember that when this effort was launched in the summer of 1990, very few people believed that the Republic of Cyprus could become an EU member state without the resolution of the Cyprus problem. So it was the continuous upgrading of the international status of the Republic of Cyprus that made a decisive contribution and is an area to which we attach particular importance, as well as the preservation of the historical memory of our currently occupied territories.
This memory of our occupied land is the driving force behind our motivation, our efforts, our unceasing struggle which fuels our deep belief that yes, despite the difficulties, problems and disappointments, we will achieve our goal of reunifying our homeland. Resistance to forgetfulness as a nourisher of hope for return, as an antidote to voracious time, is the most powerful weapon in our struggle in relation to the interior of our homeland. This is the reason why the Government and all Governments over the years, we - both as Foreign Minister and now as President of the Republic of Cyprus and I personally - actively support the strengthening and enrichment of actions that contribute to keeping the memory of occupied Cyprus unquenched and in this effort, I would like to publicly acknowledge tonight that as occupied Municipalities and Communities you play the most decisive role. Your actions, initiatives and actions, both abroad and at home, not forgetting the domestic dimension, 50 years later, are catalytic. And I would like tonight, on the occasion of my presence here, to thank you wholeheartedly on behalf of the Cypriot State for all that you offer.
I stand before you with respect and appreciation. The anxiety for the future of our country, our homeland, is engraved on your faces. The desire to return to your beloved lands is clearly visible in your eyes. From Morphou to Apostle Andrew, from Kyrenia to Famagusta and wherever else memory has been circling non-stop, day and night, for almost half a century.
As today marks the 40th anniversary of the declaration of the illegal form in the occupied territories, we know very well that the perpetuation of the problem, the stagnation and the deadlocks, we must admit, make the effort to solve the Cyprus problem even more difficult. Taking personal experience from the last negotiating process, yes, there were issues on the agenda of the discussions that did not exist in 1976 when the talks first started, that did not exist in 1983 when the declaration of the pseudo-state was made. And I say all this because, apart from the condemnation, we must under no circumstances be complacent, but we must - because our country is under occupation - constantly take initiatives, despite the difficulties, the frustrations and the problems created by the Turkish side.
It is precisely in this context that, from the first day I took office, I took the initiative to break the deadlock and I am intensifying my efforts so that we can immediately get back to the negotiating table through dialogue, with the UN resolutions and the principles and values of the EU, of which the Republic of Cyprus is a member state and will continue to be after a possible solution of the Cyprus problem, to reach the desired result, a viable and functional solution.
I often hear and if you like it is also a response to those who insist that we have to clarify what we want, what we are seeking. Our answer is very simple: we are asking for the obvious. To live in conditions of security and political stability. We want to be citizens of a country, a normal country, as the UN Secretary General rightly said in 2017, that is a place of peace and creation, that guarantees all its legitimate inhabitants fundamental human rights and creates the conditions for development and prosperity. We want to give our children the right to live without fear of tomorrow. This is what we ask for, this is what we know all too well, and nothing less.
It is precisely in this context that the direction of our action is clear. We call on Turkey - because we know very well that we are negotiating with Turkey - to engage in sincere talks, putting aside false and maximalist objectives and, yes, to engage in talks that can only lead to a mutually beneficial state of affairs through a solution to the Cyprus problem.
It is precisely for this reason, for a mutually beneficial state of affairs through a solution to the Cyprus problem, that from day one we have been seeking the EU's more active, more proactive participation, because, as I have repeatedly stressed, apart from the benefits that can accrue for all parties involved, the Cyprus problem is first and foremost a European issue. Because the Republic of Cyprus, reunited, as a member of the EU, in which the European acquis will be in force and applied, and all the benefits implied by this status will apply to all its citizens without any discrimination whatsoever. Secretary of the United Nations, I expect that there will be in the next few days, at last, the appointment of an envoy to explore the ground for the resumption of negotiations for a settlement of the Cyprus problem. This will be an important development for which, I assure you, we on our side will do everything possible to make it a success. We are not afraid of talks and I want to send this message. I said earlier that we know very well what we are seeking through dialogue. It is not our side that is worried or afraid of the talks. And yes, such an appointment will allow us to explore the prospects.
And I would like to reiterate, once again, that from our side we will do everything humanly possible to create the conditions for dialogue. We will make use of all the opportunities before us to see our country reunited and we will exhaust every effort in this direction.
We owe it to our heroes, many of whom come from our occupied municipalities and communities, who defended with their lives the freedom of our country, we owe it to all those refugees who fled with the desire to return. Our conscience demands it, we owe it to our children and to the future generations of this land.
That is why tonight I declare before you, the Committees of Occupied Municipalities and Occupied Communities, the refugees, all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, all Cypriots that, fully aware of the weight of my historical responsibility, I will continue with the same determination, with the same methodicalness to proceed with the sole aim, with the main objective, the annulment of the deeds of occupation and the reunification of this long-suffering land.
(PM/MTH/ASP)
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