“The continuation of the Turkish occupation and compromising with the division is not a choice,” said on Sunday Minister of Defence Michalis Giorgallas during the memorial service for those who fell in the battles of Tillyria, held on Sunday morning at the Holy Church of Saints Raphael, Nicolaos, and Irene in Pachyammos, Paphos. “We are seeking the resumption of an honest and sincere dialogue under the auspices of the UN, and a more active involvement of the EU, with the goal of arriving at a mutually acceptable, sustainable, and functional solution to the Cyprus problem’, Giorgallas said in his memorial speech. “Only then will the conditions be created for Hellenism to once again take root in our currently occupied land. When we achieve the end of the occupation and the reunification of our homeland in conditions of peace, security, and freedom for our people”, he added. Fifty-nine years after the bombardment of Tillyria and nearly half a century after the Turkish invasion of 1974, the occupation, barbed wire fences, and dividing lines still burden our homeland. We have a responsibility before our history, our homeland, our people, our past and future generations to fight with all our strength to free our homeland and reunite it, and turn it into a place of security, justice, and progress for our people. The Defence Minister pledged «we will not stop the struggle until ultimate justice is achieved,” adding that this is at the epicenter of all efforts by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides. ‘The return to the negotiating table and negotiations”, he further stated.
Source: Cyprus News Agency