Paphos: Half a century after the disaster, we are demanding a solution that will restore the rights of our citizens and meet the expectations of the Cypriot people, Minister of Education, Athena Michaelidou said on Friday at the annual memorial service for Archbishop Makarios III. Through the unity of political forces and of the people, we will continue to strive, to make our homeland a modern State with full sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, she said.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the memorial service was held at the Monastery of Chrysorrogiatissa, in the village of Panayia, in Paphos, birthplace of Archbishop Makarios. The Education Minister said that 51 years since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and illegal occupation, Cyprus was still experiencing the consequences. The displacement of people, the deaths and the missing persons, ‘the alteration of the demographic character of the island, the destruction of our religious and cultural heritage deprive the most elementary and inalienable rights of all Cypriot citizens, who are also EU citizens.’
She also said that the government was working for strengthening, politically, diplomatically, economically and in terms of defence, the Republic of Cyprus, which, she noted, ‘builds synergies and establishes itself as a pillar of security in the region and functions as a bridge of peace and cooperation.’ Michaelidou also said that all these actions, ‘serve our ultimate goal of the liberation and reunification of our homeland.’
Referring to support from Greece, Cyprus’ partners and the EU institutions, Michaelidou said that ‘everyone recognises the sincerity of our intentions and our commitment to the effort for creating the conditions for the resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem’, based on the agreed framework. She also noted that Archbishop Makarios III, who was the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, left an indelible mark on the modern history of Cyprus.
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.