The Cyprus problem has been and remains a top priority for Greece, regardless of the governments, said the Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, while addressing on Thursday evening an event, at the Archbishop Makarios III Foundation, in Nicosia, to mark Greek Independence Day and the launch of the EOKA struggle on 1 April 1955. The same event was also addressed by Cyprus’ Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas, who underlined Nicosia’s efforts to resume settlement talks.
Greek Independence Day is celebrated annually on March 25, commemorating the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821. On April 1, 1955, the Greek Cypriot anti-colonial movement was launched seeking union with Greece.
In his speech, which was delivered by the Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus, Ioannis Papameletiou, as Dendias was unable to attend the event due to parliamentary obligations, the Greek Minister of National Defence said that, “as the Greek Government has consistently and repeatedly stressed, there can be no complete n
ormalisation of Greek-Turkish relations without the resolution of the Cyprus problem.”
“I will repeat once again in order to make it clear to everyone. Cyprus is not far away”, he said and underlined that “the cornerstone of Greece’s position on the Cyprus problem is the constant cooperation and full coordination of our two Governments in all areas, including defence.”
Dendias also stressed the “firm commitment of Greece and Cyprus to the common struggle and goal for a solution, on the agreed basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation on the basis of UN resolutions with the implementation of the European acquis throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Cyprus.”
The Greek Defence Minister also welcomed the joint commitment to advance the maritime aid corridor to Gaza by the Republic of Cyprus, the European Commission, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Qatar and the United States.
He also said that “it is a fact that Cyprus and Greece are pillars of stability and security” and added that
“our close cooperation and brotherly relationship work for the benefit of the peoples of the wider region and their peaceful coexistence, always within the framework of respect for international law, the law of the sea and good neighbourly relations.”
Moreover, in his address at the event, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas said that “as a Government we are making every effort to remove obstacles and allow the creation of the necessary conditions for the resumption of the talks process, through which we seek to achieve a just, functioning and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.”
Palmas also said that “both the ’21 revolution and the EOKA struggle are indisputable examples of the uncompromising desire of a people for liberation and constitute irrefutable evidence of the indomitable Greek soul”.
“The EOKA struggle and the persistent efforts of the Cypriot Hellenism for the vindication of its national aspirations, caused worldwide admiration and offered to all of us the Republic of Cyprus as an independent, i
nternationally recognized state”, he concluded.
In his address, Archbishop Georgios said that “it is urgent to reposition our problem as a problem of invasion and occupation, to fight for liberation and not for any solution of Turkish specifications.”
“If we do not fight with vigour, we should not expect others to fight for us,” he said, adding that “it is time to take advantage of our accession to Europe for which our people have suffered so many sacrifices.” We are not second-class Europeans, the Archbishop continued, “so that we alone are not entitled to what everyone else is entitled to.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency