Athens: Athens and Nicosia are united by common aspirations and goals for the liberation of Cyprus, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Sunday, in statements in Thessaloniki where he attended celebrations for the city’s Patron Saint, St. Demetrius, as an honorary guest alongside the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Christodoulides noted that on Sunday, the first Chair of Cypriot Studies will be inaugurated at Aristotle University so that “the Republic of Cyprus honors Thessaloniki and Macedonia.”
The President expressed that it was a significant honor to represent Cypriot Hellenism and the Cypriot people at the official celebration for Saint Demetrius and at the official doxology for the liberation of the city. He highlighted that a majority of Cypriots who lost their lives outside Cyprus did so on the soil of Macedonia, emphasizing the unity of the two countries through common aspirations and goals.
Christodoulides remarked on the continuous coordination between Athens and Nicosia to achieve their goals, with the ultimate aim of liberating Cyprus and ending the Turkish occupation. He underlined the ongoing illegal occupation, stating that 51 years later, parts of Cyprus, a significant region of Hellenism, remain under occupation. As long as this situation persists, he asserted that there is no choice but to do everything possible to reunite the homeland.
Cyprus has experienced division since 1974, following Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. Various rounds of UN-led peace talks have failed to produce a resolution. The most recent negotiations, held in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended without conclusion.