The unveiling ceremony for the “Mari Heroes’ Monument” in Sotira was held yesterday, Sunday, by the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nicholas Ioannides, and the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Christos Zannettou.

The monument was erected in the Mari Fallen Soldiers Park in the Municipal District of Sotira by the Municipality of Ayia Napa in collaboration with the “Aroma of Ayia Napa – Friends of the Sculpture Park,” and as Mr. Zannettou told CNA, “it commemorates the sacrifice of the 13 heroes who fell in the line of duty during the explosion at the Naval Base ‘Evangelos Florakis’ on July 11, 2011, into the public sphere, the collective consciousness, and the enduring historical memory of our country.”

Mr. Zannettou added that “the monument is an act of institutional responsibility, collective self-awareness, and moral consistency toward people who gave their lives in the line of duty, people who served their country, security, peace, and the public interest with self-sacrifice, bravery, and dignity. July 11, 2011, remains etched in the modern history of the Republic of Cyprus as a day of mourning, remembrance, and reflection—and a day that highlights the heavy price of duty and the sacred obligation of the State, society, and local government to consistently honor those who served with loyalty and sacrifice.”

Responding to a question, Mr. Zannettou said that “The ‘Mari Heroes’ Memorial – July 11, 2011’ is a place of honor, silence, reflection, and national education. It is a landmark for Sotira, for the Municipality of Ayia Napa, and for all of Cyprus,” he noted.

“On behalf of the Municipality of Ayia Napa, Mr. Zannettou expressed our deepest respect, sincere solidarity, and unwavering support for the families of the heroes,” and added, “Their pain is part of our collective responsibility, and their dignity serves as an example of moral character for all of us.”

As the Mayor said, “The Municipality of Ayia Napa and the ‘Aroma of Ayia Napa – Friends of the Sculpture Park” stand alongside the families of these heroes with respect, sensitivity, and a steadfast commitment to keeping the memory of their loved ones alive. The creation of this monument in Sotira embodies precisely this desire: to have a permanent and sacred place of remembrance, where the community will return every year, at any time, to pay tribute, draw lessons, and renew its duty to remember,” he said.

Responding to a question, Mr. Zannettou replied that “Sotira, as an integral part of the new Municipality of Ayia Napa, plays a special role in preserving this memory. The Mari War Memorial Park is becoming a place of historical continuity, social sensitivity, and national dignity—a place where local government meets history and where memory is transformed into a public responsibility.”

At the same time, he expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nikolaos Ioannidis, who presided over the unveiling of the “Mari Heroes’ Memorial,” as “it is directly linked to the family losses left in the wake of the Mari tragedy. His presence at the ceremony lends additional historical and moral prestige, highlighting the importance the State attaches to preserving the memory of and paying due tribute to the 13 heroes,” said the Mayor of Ayia Napa.

He also expressed his gratitude to Christakis Pitta, President of the “Aroma of Ayia Napa – Friends of the Sculpture Park” Association, “for his initiative, perseverance, and active contribution to the creation of the Monument,” and noted that “the greatest honor we can pay to the heroes lies in keeping their memory alive, in the education we impart to our children, in our respect for their families, and in our collective decision to keep the historical truth alive and to transform their sacrifice into a guide for responsibility.”