Fifteen years after the tragic explosion in Mari, the son of Captain Andreas Ioannidis, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nikolas Ioannidis, and the wife of Warrant Officer Kleanthis Kleanthous, Katia Kleanthous, state that certain issues have not yet been “rectified” in light of the lessons taught by July 11, 2011, and that the sacrifice of the 13 heroes must never be forgotten.

In a statement made on the sidelines of the annual memorial service for Captain Ioannidis and Warrant Officer Kleanthous in Limassol, Nicholas Ioannidis expressed his heartfelt thanks to the citizens who “from the very first moment of the tragedy poured into the streets, held demonstrations, stood by us, and supported us”.

“Without the support of all these people, we could not have borne the burden, the pressure,” he said, noting that “the anniversary of July 11 inevitably brings back memories, and these are difficult days; yet at the same time, there is pride, because we know that our people did not cower—they did not back down.”

“They left us a legacy that we must follow, and they did what any responsible Cypriot would have done,” he said, expressing his certainty that “there are people in our country who are proud, responsible, and have a sense of duty—and on days like these, they remind us of that.”

Whether it’s the anniversary of the invasion, when young people were killed fighting the invader, or the anniversary of Isaak–Solomos, or the Mari incident, he continued “all these tragic anniversaries, for all they are, also have a positive side: the Greeks of Cyprus are proud, and when necessary, they will even give their lives for the dignity and freedom of this land.”

When asked about this, Nicolas Ioannides said that “The attitude of the people, of our fellow citizens, shows precisely that this sacrifice resonated, that it was not in vain, but was made precisely to protect the collective dignity of our people.”

“Of course, there are many things that need to be corrected, and we will not stop fighting for that. Full vindication has not yet been achieved, but we will continue to fight through our lives and our work, so as to honor the memory of our fallen heroes, who put the common good before themselves,” the Deputy Minister of Migration concluded in his statement.

For her part, Katia Kleanthous said that the families of the heroes want people to remember that bravery and a sense of duty are things that must be demonstrated through actions, not words.

“This is something our heroes have proven by putting what was most precious to them—their lives—on the line for their duty, honoring their uniform, the oath they took, and their duty,” she added, calling on people “not to forget, because, unfortunately, there is this tendency in our country to forget.”

At the same time, she expressed her regret because, as she said, “I see that Mari hasn’t corrected many things; we haven’t become more responsible, and that saddens me deeply.”

“Especially these days, as we mark the anniversary of that tragic day, I—and I imagine all the families—am overwhelmed by so many emotions: anger, uncertainty, and sorrow, but also great pride and awe at the heroism and self-sacrifice of our own people,” he added.

Finally, he expressed his hope that “this will, someday, serve as an example for everyone.”

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