The Minister of Defense, Vasilis Palmas, in his speech on Sunday morning during the memorial service at the Holy Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene in Pachyammos, in memory of those who fell heroically in the battles of Tillyria.
Mr. Palmas, who represented the President of the Republic, reiterated Nicosia’s commitment to a “functional and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem,” within the agreed framework of the United Nations, international law, and the principles and values of the European Union.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
As he noted, a significant effort is currently underway to restart the negotiation process, which, he said, is based on the clear political will of the Republic of Cyprus.
Mr. Palmas expressed his hope that the same sincere political will would be demonstrated by all parties, so as to create the conditions for a return to the negotiating table.
“Reaching a solution that will restore unity, ensures security, and offers a future of freedom and prospects for all lawful residents of the Republic of Cyprus will be the best tribute to all those who sacrificed themselves for their homeland,” he emphasized.
He referred to the sacrifice of those who fell during the battles of August 1964, describing the events in Tillyria as “one of the most dramatic chapters in modern Cypriot history.”
Sixty-two years after the battles, Mr. Palmas emphasized that the memory of Tillyria remains alive through the sacrifice of the members of the 31st Commando Squadron, the men of the 206th and 216th Infantry Battalions, the 83rd and 85th Companies of the 8th Regular Brigade, the National Guard Companies of Kato Pyrgos and Pachyammos, as well as the seven fallen crew members of the patrol boat “Faethon” and the volunteers from the region.
Quoting verses by the Cypriot poet Kostas Montis, the Minister of Defense noted that the sacrifice of the fallen remains a living historical testimony, not only for those who fell on the battlefield, but also for an entire generation that experienced war, loss, and destruction.
Mr. Palmas gave a detailed account of the historical context of the battles, with particular emphasis on the capture of Lorovounos Hill on July 9, 1964, and the National Guard’s operation to recapture the hills.
The Minister of Defense focused particularly on the Turkish bombings of Tillyria, highlighting the attack on the patrol boat “Faethon,” during which seven crew members, six Greek sailors and one Cypriot volunteer.
He also referred to the bombing of residential areas and, in particular, the makeshift hospital in Pachyammos, describing it as “merciless bombing” that claimed the lives of patients and members of the medical staff.
He added that 52 years after the invasion, the wounds of division and occupation remain open.
In closing, he emphasized the obligation of today’s generation to continue the struggle, taking up, as he put it, “the bloodstained baton” that was passed down 62 years ago.
The memorial service was organized by the Holy Metropolis of Paphos, the National Guard, the Association of Relatives of the Fallen, the Pancyprian Association of Volunteer Fighters 1963–1964, the Pan-Cyprian Organization of Reserve Officers, the Pan-Cyprian Association of Paratroopers, and the Pachyammos Community.
This was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony.
Source: CNA
