Ministers of Cyprus commemorated on Sunday at church memorial services all those who fell during the Turkish invasion against Cyprus in 1974 and pledged that despite the difficulties and the intrasingent stance of Turkey, the Greek Cypriot side will continue its struggle for justice and reunification.
Our national goal remains the resumption of a dialogue for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Minister of Defence Vassilis Palmas said Sunday, at the memorial service for those who fell and those who are missing from the 281 Infantry Battalion, which took place on Sunday in Koutrafas.
Palmas said that the national goal remains the resumption of the dialogue on the Cyprus issue, based on the agreed framework and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, adding that the other side should also demonstrate the same sincere willingness to restart the dialogue, based on the agreed framework and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
“This is the only way if we wish to offer our count
ry a sustainable and functional solution and our compatriots a future of peace, security, prosperity and progress. For us, this remains our supreme national goal,” he noted.
In her address at the memorial service for the commemoration of those who fell during the Turkish invasion, which was held at the Holy Church of Agios Georgios Kontos in Larnaca, the Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou said that we are focused on a peaceful and European future for Cyprus, adding that the Republic of Cyprus will never accept any faits accomplis through the Turkish occupation.
“Today we pay the minimum due tribute to the fallen of the Turkish invasion of 1974 and we honor those who with incomparable self-sacrifice fell into an unequal struggle for the defense of the homeland”.
She pledged that despite the Turkish unyielding attitude, “our compass continues to be the achievement of a just and functional solution to Cyprus problem”.
Minister of Education Athena Michaelides said that the priority is the resumption of
talks for a solution and their good outcome. She was addressing the memorial service of the people of Paralimni who fell during the coup and the Turkish invasion. The service took place in the Holy Church of Agios Georgios in Paralimni.
She said that Nicosia wants the EU and the international community, to exert the necessary pressure on Turkey to cooperate for the resolution of the Cyprus issue as well as that they are involved in the efforts for a comprehensive and final solution to the Cyprus issue.
“The ongoing crime of occupying our homeland, a member country of the European Union and the UN, which is internationally recognized as a pillar of stability, security, peace and cooperation in the wider region, brutally violates international and European law.”, she concluded.
Deputy Minister for Culture Vassiliki Kassianidou said that despite the difficulties, the government of Nikos Christodoulides will never stop the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, liberate the island and reunify the country, wher
e its legal residents will coexist peacefully.
Speaking at a memorial service on behalf of the President of the Republic, for the fallen of Athienou during the Turkish invasion of 1974, Kassianidou said that Turkey not only remains intransigent, but with a series of actions has been escalating its provocative stance.
“The declaration of the pseudo-state, the continuous reinforcement of the Turkish troops, the intensity of the transfer of settlers from Turkey with the obvious aim of changing the demographic data of Cyprus, the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties, were the tangible examples of this behavior,” she said. However, she underlined that despite the difficulties the government will not cease its efforts for solution and reunification.
Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said on Sunday that no matter how many years have passed, no matter how many difficulties, how deep the pain is Cypriots will not compromise and will not forget.
Speaking at the memorial service for the annual n
ational commemoration of the fallen during which a prayer was done for finding the missing people of the Paleometocho community, Raouna stressed that our highest duty and primary concern is the end of the occupation, the reunification of our country and our people.
“We dream of a reunited Cyprus within the great European family, where its citizens will enjoy all the rights enjoyed by other European citizens, without discrimination. A European Cyprus, of justice, security, peace and prosperity, of equal opportunities. For this vision we are here and we will never stop fighting,” she concluded.
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. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Columbia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role
on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.
Source: Cyprus News Agency