The annual memorial service for Archbishop Makarios III, Cyprus` first President, who died of a heart attack, on August 3, 1977, was held at Kykkos Monastery on Sunday morning.
The service was attended by politicians and other state officials. The President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and the government were represented by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
Addressing the service, Deputy Head of the socialist party EDEK, Marinos Sizopoulos, stressed that “those who are interested in a real solution of the Cyprus issue, should exert pressure on Turkey”.
Sizopoulos pointed out that the solution of the Cyprus problem should be based on the international law and the acquis communautaire and that any attempt to upgrade the illegal regime in occupied Cyprus, will not be accepted.
He said that Cyprus should establish strong alliances with strong EU member states and other countries with which it has common interests and facilitate the fulfillment of its goals through its EU membership and its geostrategic position, in light of the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
Makarios was buried in a tomb on the mountain of Throni, near Kykkos Monastery.
A wreath laying took place at the tomb, after the service.
