Nicosia: Ending the Turkish occupation and liberating Cyprus remains the objective, while unity among Greek Cypriots is more necessary than ever in this national effort, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicholas A. Ioannides said on Wednesday. Speaking at a festal Vespers service for Chrysosotiras and the annual dinner dance of the Akanthou Refugee Association, Ioannides said this year's gathering was taking place at a time of increased diplomatic activity on the Cyprus issue.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Ioannides emphasized the goal of ending the Turkish occupation and liberating Cyprus, envisioning a nation unbound by outdated guarantees, where the human rights and security of all legal residents are protected. He underscored the essential need for unity among Greek Cypriots in this national effort.
Ioannides highlighted the special responsibility of refugees and their descendants to maintain this unity. He noted the shared struggle for return from Akanthou and Kyrenia to Morphou, Famagusta, Karpasia, Mesaoria, and every occupied village.
He assured continued government support for Akanthou Municipality, the Akanthou Refugee Association, and all displaced municipalities and communities in their efforts to preserve memory, identity, and hope for return. Ioannides, himself a native of Akanthou, pledged his personal commitment to standing by the community.
Reflecting on the 52 years since the Turkish invasion and the displacement of thousands, Ioannides acknowledged the generational changes and the distance from ancestral lands. Yet, he affirmed that events like the gathering keep the spirit of Akanthou alive.
Akanthou endures in the stories of ancestors, in the names of streets and landmarks, and in the icons of Chrysosotiras cherished in homes. The memory of Akanthou is revived when young people proudly declare their origin, even if they have never lived there.
Ioannides concluded by commending the important work of Akanthou Municipality and the Akanthou Refugee Association, reinforcing the notion that Cyprus' occupied towns and villages remain alive in the hearts and minds of its people. Despite numerous rounds of UN-led peace talks since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus' northern third, a resolution has yet to be achieved. The most recent negotiations in July 2017 at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ended without a conclusive outcome.