Cyprus pays tribute to today’s national anniversary of 1st April 1955, which marks the date when the EOKA rebellion for the island to gain independence against the British Colony began. The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides attends in the morning a church mass, in Nicosia, officiated by Archbishop Georgios. Later he will visit the “Imprisoned Graves”, the graves of the EOKA fighters located within Nicosia Central Prison, to lay wreaths. Ministers and other state and party officials are attending events in Nicosia and other cities and communities. The armed anti-colonial struggle lasted for four years and led to the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, having three guarantor powers, Britain Greece and Turkey. In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupies since then 37% of the Republic`s territory. Cyprus is a full EU member state since 2004.
Source: Cyprus News Agency