Press Releases

It is the weighing on our conscience that led us today to this historic location, in Antistaseos square, in order to condemn the double crime that was committed against our country and to honour those who defended the legality, the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus, -our most precious possession.

The piercing sound of the sirens heard today and will also be heard the forthcoming Saturday feels like a stab in our heart and memory. The pain, the shame, the despair, the images of destruction linger in our thoughts like a thousand bees around the corpse of Onesilus. And inevitably the memories revive even more intensely every summer on these days.

Fifty years after the destruction, we are gathered here to pay the tribute deserved. I must confess that I am especially moved, as this intrepid part of Pafos, very familiar to me, is connected with dramatic events that took place during those critical hours, when the clouds of treachery gathered over our country, showing -as I cannot accept that no one knew the destruction that would follow.

As it is known to everyone, Pafos was the welcoming place that offered safety and protection to the Archbishop, President Makarios, during the first hours immediately after the outbreak of the reckless and treacherous coup d’état of the 15^th July 1974.

The people of Cyprus in their entirety, Pafos more so, reacted instantly to the lawless plans of the putschists and raised a protective shield around the legally elected leader of the country. What’s more, it was owing to the courageous contributors of the Pafos free radio station that the historic message of President Makarios was transmitted.

Allow me to announce that as Government, we will construct a museum in this location so that the new generations will be able to know of these events as well.

During those tragic hours, Pafos became the centre of the resistance against the coup, negating the lies of putschists that Makarios was dead. Sadly, the treason was so immense, the fight was so unequal that fate tipped the scale against the resistance.

I see here tonight that among us there are many of the fighters and their families who fought in the first line of defence. I salute them all, one by one and I bow before them on behalf of the state with respect and appreciation. You are the living history. We owe you a lot and we are grateful to you!

No excuse can give an alibi to the deceptive and untruthful assertions put forward by the Athens Junta and its local collaborators, of whom Turkey took full advantage by invading our country and achieving a long-term goal, well-known to everyone.

The fiftieth anniversary of the sombre anniversaries of the treacherous coup and the barbaric invasion of Turkey provides an opportunity for collective contemplation in order to draw conclusions, to reaffirm principles, values and positions as regards the handling of the ongoing occupation of a large part of the territory of an independent state, the Republic of Cyprus, a member of the United Nations and the European Union.

The consequences of the Turkish invasion are numerous and ongoing for half a century and it is for this reason that the responsibility of those who are accountable for the invasion and the continued occupation of Cyprus, by force is enormous. They constitute a blatant violation of International and European law, of the Charter of the United Nations, of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus as well as an unquestionable violation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Cypriots forced to live in their own country deprived of basic human rights.

This is the historic reality in our country. A reality that forces us to end today’s unacceptable status quo and to reinstate the basic freedoms and human rights for all legal citizens of this country. And it is because of this historic reality and need that we put great effort to overcome the consequences of the Turkish invasion.

From these historic grounds, I would like to assure you that despite the difficulties, challenges, disappointments, and threats, we will continue the effort to create these circumstances that will allow us to find a solution to the Cyprus problem under the auspices of the United Nations. Undoubtedly, and by being very familiar with the feelings of the Cypriot people, the negative stance of Turkey worries us and makes the situation difficult. However, it does not discourage us, because we know where we are going very well, we have belief in our arguments, we have the confidence that we can and we owe it to the Cypriot people to bring better days to Cyprus.

With assertive realism, determination and perseverance and without complaining and whining, which would be the easy way out, we continue the enormous effort, utilizing every tool available in a continuously changing international reality.

The only way forward, and this is the one that I consistently follow and will continue to pursue is the one of collaboration and peace and I will continue to exert every effort in order to break the deadlock and resume talks the soonest possible. The message sent today by Mr Theodorou, whilst taking into consideration his history, is the one of unity, because without unity nothing can be achieved.

We aim for freedom and a solution that will truly reunite our country and its people in conditions of democracy, security, equal rights and chances for all its legal citizens.

Fifty years later, half a century after, our path has only one direction. With the necessary political will and in full collaboration with the Hellenic Republic we continue to aim for the long-awaited reunification.

There is no other option for us than ending the occupation and reuniting our country. We must rid of the occupation and the division that is eroding the powers and potential of our country and to be able to fully develop all those that we can achieve in order to further progress and prosper. The current status quo nullifies the vision of a united, prospering country.

In 1974, the Republic of Cyprus suffered a double violation which traumatised, divided and crippled it. However, during these 50 years, and to the great disappointment of some, the Cypriot people have not compromised, resigned nor forgotten.

Despite the unlawful continuous efforts to eradicate it, the Republic of Cyprus reinforces its international presence and as a member state of the European Union and the Eurozone, participates creatively in the European political and financial scene as an active, productive and creative partner.

With confidence, credibility and dignity, we work towards the multi-level shielding of our country politically, financially, socially and in defence, so that through the liberation and reunification of our country we can pass on a free and safe country.

This is my promise, this is my vision for this country. We owe it to the people who have lost their lives, to the missing persons, to the refugees, to all those who have suffered and to all of you who resisted in 1974, so that the Republic of Cyprus exists today.

(AS/AP)