Despite the obstacles and difficulties, the Greek Cypriot community continues to fight for liberation and reunification, Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said today, on the sidelines of the event commemorating and honoring the fallen of 1974, organized by the Municipality of Serres and community organizations, at the Square of the Fallen and Missing Soldiers of 1974 in Serres.

Mr. Ioannou expressed deep emotion at the solemn ceremony, during which those who gave their lives defending the Republic of Cyprus—from Serres, Greece, and Cyprus—were honored. “Fifty-two years later, the Greek Cypriot community continues to suffer the tragic consequences of the brutal Turkish invasion. Fifty-two years later, the refugees cannot return to their ancestral homes. Relatives continue to worry and wait for confirmation of the fate of their missing loved ones. It is an open wound for the Cyprus issue. Fundamental human rights are being violated,” said the Minister of the Interior.

“Despite the obstacles, despite the difficulties, despite the disappointment, the Greek Cypriot community continues to fight for liberation. We do not accept the fait accompli of the occupation, nor do we accept partition as a solution. Our position is firm and unchanging. “Our goal is liberation, the reunification of Cyprus, and freedom from the occupying forces and anachronistic guarantees,” the Minister emphasized.

On this path, he said, “beyond the support of our European partners and the international community, above all, we have the enduring, unreserved, and unwavering support of Greece and the Greek people, who have stood by Cyprus for 52 long years.”

When asked to comment on the significance of the deployment of the Greek frigate to Cyprus last March, Mr. Ioannou noted that, aside from the sense of pride we felt as Greek Cypriots, this action had a substantive goal and mission to defend the Greek Cypriot community against potential attacks. “So, in addition to its symbolic value, it also made a practical contribution to the defense and protective fortification of Cyprus,” said the Minister of the Interior.

When asked whether there is cause for concern regarding recent reports of cooperation between Turkey and Egypt and whether such a development would alter the balance of power in the Mediterranean, the Minister declined to comment on what he described as mere speculation at this time.