Nicosia: The Committee of Occupied Municipalities paid tribute to the officers and soldiers who fell during the 1974 Turkish invasion, as well as to those who passed away carrying the pain of displacement, during a solemn memorial ceremony held on Wednesday morning at the Makedonitissa Tomb, a military cemetery and war memorial in Nicosia, that honors victims of the Turkish invasion.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a religious service was officiated by Bishop of Karpasia, Christophoros, followed by the laying of wreaths on behalf of the occupied municipalities and representatives of Greek cities, in honor of those who fell defending their homeland.
In his address, Chairman of the Committee of Occupied Municipalities and Mayor of Famagusta, Dr. Simos Ioannou, said that 52 years after the tragic events of July 1974, "the wound remains open, the pain is etched into our souls, and our duty towards the heroes is non-negotiable." Referring to those who lost their lives, Ioannou said that within the sacred grounds of the Makedonitissa Tomb lie buried duty, honor, and the refusal to surrender.
"These soldiers, young in age, many of them unarmed and unprepared, did not consider the enemy's numerical superiority. They resisted with whatever means they had and in every way they could," he said, adding that their sacrifice was not in vain, as "our national conscience and sense of responsibility were built upon their blood." Ioannou also made particular reference to the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Cypriots from their ancestral homes.
He said the occupied municipalities remain "bound in chains, open wounds on the body of the Republic of Cyprus," stressing that the Committee's role is primarily moral and symbolic, ensuring that silence does not turn into oblivion. "The Committee institutionally represents the voices of our displaced people, conveying their demand for justice, and works tirelessly to preserve our cultural identity, historical continuity and the hope of return. As long as there are displaced persons, return remains a living claim and not merely a dream," he said.
Concluding his address, Ioannou stressed that the memory of those who fell should inspire the daily struggle for the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, for a free and democratic country without foreign troops or guarantees.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.