It is unthinkable for us that Greece's relations with Turkey can be normalized without taking into account bloody Cyprus, Archbishop George of Cyprus said on Saturday. For his part, representing the Greek government, Greek Deputy Defense Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis said that the common goal of Greece and Cyprus always remains a just and sustainable solution to the bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with resolutions UN Security Council and compatible with European legislation.
They spoke after a memorial service for those killed during the Turkish invasion and for the liberation, return of refugees and search for missing persons at the Metropolitan Church of Apostolos Varnavas in Kokkinotrimithia in the presence of the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis and the Speaker of Parliament from Representatives Annita Dimitriou.
In his speech after the end of the wake, the Archbishop of Cyprus said that today marks the end of "50 years of brutal occupation of almost half of our homeland, 50 years of continuous efforts to destroy our Greek and Christian morality in our occupied land." , 50 years of barbaric settlement of our subjects."
He added that today's presence of the Greek Deputy Defense Minister, with all the symbolism it conveys, heightens everyone's emotions, adding that the "our ancestors for centuries, ever since they arrived in Cyprus, have constantly focused their thoughts and all their attention on Greece."
"We Greeks in Cyprus count 35 centuries of residence. Through rivers of blood and incalculable sacrifices we have preserved our language, our national identity, our morals and customs. However, our consciousness that we are part of a nation gives us the right to take it for granted to seek more substantial assistance from Greece and thus we justify your presence here as proof that you also feel the need to join us in our struggle for survival in the land of our fathers'" he added in this regard.
He also said that the presence of the Greek deputy minister was perceived as a direct response to the Turkish side's provocations on today's black anniversary of the invasion. "As much as we would like to improve Greek-Turkish relations, we doubt that such an improvement can be achieved with the presence today of 50 warships in our occupied sea, so many warplanes in our air and the expansionist rhetoric of the Turkish president. on our occupied land'" he said.
'We would not like to believe that the way to improve Greek-Turkish relations does not pass through Cyprus'" he emphasized he, adding that Cyprus cannot be threatened by the danger of Turkization and for the nation to remain indifferent.
'It is unthinkable for us that Greece's relations with Turkey can be normalized without taking into account the bleeding Cyprus'" the archbishop noted, adding that Cyprus expects continued and increased support for Greece until human rights and universal freedoms prevail on the island, until the liberation of our occupied land.
For his part, the Greek Deputy Minister of Defense, in his speech, noted that the historical review of the dramatic events of the invasion gives us the opportunity today, in relation to historical memory, to draw the necessary lessons and models as an action a militant awakening, as a step towards national uplift and as an inspiration for the eternal immortal values of freedom, independence and justice.
Fifty years have passed since the fateful day of July 20, 1974, and the wound caused by Attila's unprovoked and illegal invasion still bleeds today, continued Mr. Kefalogiannis, adding that "as a nation we are obliged to never compromise with the tragic consequences of this barbarism and the ongoing illegal occupation of the territory of a sovereign and independent member state of the European Union."
"An unimaginable tragedy. obliges us to keep in memory the sacrifice of those who then fell before the altars and hearths, as well as the missing fighters who with bravery and steadfastness defended the highest benefits of freedom and independence of Cypriot Hellenism, the great national and moral principles that we must restore," Mr. Kefalogiannis noted, adding that the common goal of Greece and Cyprus and the top national priority always remains "a just and sustainable solution to the bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. A solution that will definitively resolve the Cyprus issue and restore international order and legitimacy, compatible with the European norms of the UN Security Council."
"Greece and Cyprus, firmly committed to respecting international law, pillars of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, will continue their tireless joint efforts for the complete withdrawal of the occupation troops, hoping only for a future of prosperity and progress. for Megalonissos'" he emphasized.
We will never forget the suffering, the innocent victims, the missing Cypriots and Greeks who bravely and courageously defended the freedom of Cyprus from the Turkish invader, and we will never cease to constantly remind Turkey of its responsibility for the unimaginable tragedy and a blatant violation. of every concept of law," concluded Mr. Kefalogiannis, adding that the Cypriot people are exemplary in that they have managed to recover and achieve an incredible level of prosperity after surviving a previously unspeakable tragedy.
The memorial service was attended by SYRIZA President Stefanos Kasselakis and Greek Ambassador Ioannis Papameletiou, Chief of General Staff of the Greek National Defense Dimitrios Upis, Chief of General Staff of the National Guard Georgios Tsitsikostas, Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou, members of the government, leaders of political parties, members of the House of Representatives and the European Parliament, and representatives of local authorities.
They spoke after a memorial service for those killed during the Turkish invasion and for the liberation, return of refugees and search for missing persons at the Metropolitan Church of Apostolos Varnavas in Kokkinotrimithia in the presence of the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis and the Speaker of Parliament from Representatives Annita Dimitriou.
In his speech after the end of the wake, the Archbishop of Cyprus said that today marks the end of "50 years of brutal occupation of almost half of our homeland, 50 years of continuous efforts to destroy our Greek and Christian morality in our occupied land." , 50 years of barbaric settlement of our subjects."
He added that today's presence of the Greek Deputy Defense Minister, with all the symbolism it conveys, heightens everyone's emotions, adding that the "our ancestors for centuries, ever since they arrived in Cyprus, have constantly focused their thoughts and all their attention on Greece."
"We Greeks in Cyprus count 35 centuries of residence. Through rivers of blood and incalculable sacrifices we have preserved our language, our national identity, our morals and customs. However, our consciousness that we are part of a nation gives us the right to take it for granted to seek more substantial assistance from Greece and thus we justify your presence here as proof that you also feel the need to join us in our struggle for survival in the land of our fathers'" he added in this regard.
He also said that the presence of the Greek deputy minister was perceived as a direct response to the Turkish side's provocations on today's black anniversary of the invasion. "As much as we would like to improve Greek-Turkish relations, we doubt that such an improvement can be achieved with the presence today of 50 warships in our occupied sea, so many warplanes in our air and the expansionist rhetoric of the Turkish president. on our occupied land'" he said.
'We would not like to believe that the way to improve Greek-Turkish relations does not pass through Cyprus'" he emphasized he, adding that Cyprus cannot be threatened by the danger of Turkization and for the nation to remain indifferent.
'It is unthinkable for us that Greece's relations with Turkey can be normalized without taking into account the bleeding Cyprus'" the archbishop noted, adding that Cyprus expects continued and increased support for Greece until human rights and universal freedoms prevail on the island, until the liberation of our occupied land.
For his part, the Greek Deputy Minister of Defense, in his speech, noted that the historical review of the dramatic events of the invasion gives us the opportunity today, in relation to historical memory, to draw the necessary lessons and models as an action a militant awakening, as a step towards national uplift and as an inspiration for the eternal immortal values of freedom, independence and justice.
Fifty years have passed since the fateful day of July 20, 1974, and the wound caused by Attila's unprovoked and illegal invasion still bleeds today, continued Mr. Kefalogiannis, adding that "as a nation we are obliged to never compromise with the tragic consequences of this barbarism and the ongoing illegal occupation of the territory of a sovereign and independent member state of the European Union."
"An unimaginable tragedy. obliges us to keep in memory the sacrifice of those who then fell before the altars and hearths, as well as the missing fighters who with bravery and steadfastness defended the highest benefits of freedom and independence of Cypriot Hellenism, the great national and moral principles that we must restore," Mr. Kefalogiannis noted, adding that the common goal of Greece and Cyprus and the top national priority always remains "a just and sustainable solution to the bizonal, bicommunal federation in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. A solution that will definitively resolve the Cyprus issue and restore international order and legitimacy, compatible with the European norms of the UN Security Council."
"Greece and Cyprus, firmly committed to respecting international law, pillars of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, will continue their tireless joint efforts for the complete withdrawal of the occupation troops, hoping only for a future of prosperity and progress. for Megalonissos'" he emphasized.
We will never forget the suffering, the innocent victims, the missing Cypriots and Greeks who bravely and courageously defended the freedom of Cyprus from the Turkish invader, and we will never cease to constantly remind Turkey of its responsibility for the unimaginable tragedy and a blatant violation. of every concept of law," concluded Mr. Kefalogiannis, adding that the Cypriot people are exemplary in that they have managed to recover and achieve an incredible level of prosperity after surviving a previously unspeakable tragedy.
The memorial service was attended by SYRIZA President Stefanos Kasselakis and Greek Ambassador Ioannis Papameletiou, Chief of General Staff of the Greek National Defense Dimitrios Upis, Chief of General Staff of the National Guard Georgios Tsitsikostas, Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou, members of the government, leaders of political parties, members of the House of Representatives and the European Parliament, and representatives of local authorities.
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