On Monday, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, attended the memorial service for those who fell during the Turkish invasion and the prayer service for the liberation of Cyprus.

The service at the Cathedral of St. Barnabas, presided over by Archbishop George, was also attended by Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Dimitriou, Minister of Defense Vasilis Palmas, and other officials.

After the service, the former Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Pavlos Mylonas, delivered a speech in which he spoke of the need for perseverance, unity, and faith in the principles of justice in order to achieve freedom for Cyprus.

He noted that July 20, 1974, was “the darkest day,” as it marked the dawn of an invasion “that forever changed the fate of Cyprus.”

Mr. Mylonas emphasized that the people of Cyprus must not grow accustomed to the occupation nor forget the occupied territories. “Memory is not a burden. It is a people’s compass,” he said, noting that “whoever loses their memory loses their identity. And a people without an identity is a people without a future.” He added that no one has the right to ask the Cypriot people to forget and accept the occupation as normal, while emphasizing that “Peace cannot be built on injustice, and reconciliation cannot require forgetting.”

“The solution to the Cyprus problem must be based on respect for international law, human rights, and the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus,” he said, clarifying that the struggle is not directed against Turkish Cypriots, but “against the occupation and the violation of the law.”

“We want a Cyprus where future generations will live together, peacefully and securely, without occupation troops and without intervention rights or guarantees,” he said, noting that this goal requires unity and that “there is no room for petty partisan disputes, but only a shared responsibility toward the homeland.”

At the same time, he called on everyone to stand by the President of the Republic in the difficult effort to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Concluding his speech, he noted that “peoples lose the victory when they lose their faith,” adding: “We have not lost our faith, we have not lost our dignity, nor have we lost our hope. We will continue with perseverance, unity, and faith in the principles of justice until the day comes when Cyprus is truly free.”

In his own speech, Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis stated that Greece and Cyprus are “in constant cooperation and coordination” to achieve a solution to the Cyprus problem, expressing his hope and conviction that the 52nd somber anniversary of the Turkish invasion will be the last.

“Greece and Cyprus pay their respects with great reverence to the fallen, the missing, and the surviving veterans,” he said, emphasizing that they defended the freedom, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.

He also noted that, despite 52 years of occupation, the Republic of Cyprus has endured and continues to withstand the ordeal.

“Our ultimate goal is to end the Turkish occupation and reunify Cyprus,” he emphasized.

As he stated, the goal is a mutually acceptable solution based on UN Security Council resolutions, which will ensure the implementation of the European acquis throughout Cyprus, as well as the withdrawal of the occupying forces and the abolition of anachronistic guarantees and intervention rights.

At the same time, she expressed Athens’ support for the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to resume negotiations, emphasizing that “Cyprus has had, has, and will continue to have the unwavering support of Greece and the Greek people.”

The service was also attended by party leaders and representatives, members of parliament, as well as relatives of the fallen and missing from Greece.

At the conclusion of the service and as the President of the Republic and the other officials were departing, a group of students from PEOF and DRASIS-K.E.S. gathered in the church courtyard, chanting slogans such as “Turks out of Cyprus,” “Out with the Bases from Cyprus,” “Cyprus is Greek,” as well as slogans against the federal solution.

In the presence of dignitaries and relatives, a memorial service was held at the Makedonitissa Tomb for those who fell in 1974

A memorial service at the Makedonitissa Tomb for the officers and soldiers who fell during the Turkish invasion was held on Monday morning, in the presence of President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Dimitriou, Minister of Defense Vasilis Palmas, Deputy Prime Minister of Greece Kostis Hatzidakis, civil, religious, and military authorities, as well as relatives of the fallen and missing from Greece and Cyprus.

Upon the conclusion of the memorial service, a roll call of the fallen was conducted, accompanied by a salute of gunfire, followed by the laying of wreaths at the Monument to the Heroes on the Makedonitissa Mound.

A minute of silence was also observed, followed by the playing of the National Anthem, while members of the Cyprus Scout Corps scattered flowers on the graves of the fallen.

Following the ceremony, the President of the Republic spoke with relatives of the fallen and visited the Noratlas transport aircraft located at the Macedonitissa Memorial.

This aircraft is similar to the Noratlas that was carrying Greek paratroopers and was shot down in July 1974 by friendly fire during Operation “NIKI 4,” crashing onto the site of the Tumulus.

Inside the aircraft are photographs of the Greek paratroopers who were on board, placed in the seats where each of them had been sitting.

Source: KYPE