As the Flame of Debt reached Paralimni and joined the other flames that had traveled across Cyprus, a tribute was paid to the missing Lieutenant General Tasos Markou, 52 years after the day he went missing.
Starting on August 10, runners from all the free districts received and carried the Flames, passing through 52 memorial sites—including monuments to the fallen and the missing, sites of struggle and sacrifice, and sacred places.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
A special Flame set out from the occupied village of Mia Milia, from the village cemetery and from the line where the Commander of the 305th Mobilization Battalion, Tassos Markou, remained at his post and fought before his whereabouts became unknown.
On August 14, the Flames reached their shared final destination: the statue of Tassos Markou in Paralimni. The Flames united, and from their union the Central Flame was lit. From it, 52 candles were lit—one for each year of occupation and waiting. The time was 4:35 a.m.
At 4:35 a.m. on August 14, 1974, the second phase of the Turkish invasion began. Fifty-two years later, the sirens sounded again, as a reminder of history.
In front of the empty chair of Tassos Markou, the first light was lit, followed by the 52 candles, as a symbol of remembrance and the debt that remains.
A prayer service was held today, on the somber anniversary of the second phase of the Turkish invasion, for the safe return of the missing Lieutenant General Tassos Markou.
AdvertisementTassos Markou has become firmly entrenched in the collective consciousness of the Greek world as one of the most iconic figures of modern Cypriot… pic.twitter.com/5NOZOMLny2
— Vasilis Palmas (@PalmasVasilis) August 14, 2026
This was followed by a prayer for the discovery of the missing persons from Paralimni, for the revelation of the truth, and for the comfort of their families.
The Deputy Mayor of Paralimni, Kleanthis Koutsoftas, addressed the gathering, while Irini Hatzikyriakou, granddaughter of Eleni Mosfili, sister of Tassos Markou, recited the poem “The Dream.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Mayor of Paralimni, Kleanthis Koutsoftas, stated, among other things, that “today we stand with deep emotion, respect, and national pride, in memory of a great son of Paralimni. And one of the greatest figures in the modern history of Cyprus, the missing Lieutenant General Tasos Markou.”
He noted that “Tassos Markou remains a symbol of patriotism, bravery, military honor, and dedication to duty. Tassos Markou is a man who, during our country’s most difficult hours, served Cyprus with all his strength. It is our duty today not to let his memory fade.”
Next, the son of the missing Lieutenant General, Paris Markou, took the podium.
Speaking as a son, he referred to his father’s absence from family life, the empty chair that remained at the family table, and the wait for the truth to be revealed. He emphasized that for the family, the word “missing” is not just a term in a file, but a life left unresolved, an unanswered question, and an absence that has continued for 52 years.
She also stressed that the state has an inalienable debt to the families of the missing, noting that the search for the truth cannot be postponed, as time passes and with it eyewitnesses and information are lost.
Paris Markou also spoke of his father, emphasizing that on August 14, 1974, he remained at his post, fully aware of the danger and choosing not to abandon his mission, his men, and the line he was duty-bound to defend. “He didn’t go to return. He went to hold the line. He wasn’t lost by leaving. He was lost while holding the line,” he said.
The ceremony continued with “Il Silenzio,” a military salute of honor and remembrance for the fallen, the missing, and the families who continue to wait.
This was followed by the laying of wreaths, after which 52 seconds of silence were observed—one second for each year of waiting.
Present at the event were Speaker of the House Annita Dimitriou, Minister of Defense Vasilis Palmas, Member of the European Parliament Michalis Hatzipantelas, Members of Parliament from the Famagusta District, the President of the Famagusta District Local Government Organization, Yiannis Karousos; the Deputy Mayor of Paralimni, Kleanthis Koutsoftas; and representatives of the security forces.
The event concluded with the National Anthem.
Source: CNA
