It is our duty to convey to the young people the values of peace, freedom and democracy gained through hard struggles and many sacrifices, said Tuesday the Minister of Defence Christoforos Fokaides.
Speaking at today`s event for Remembrance Day to commemorate the sacrifice of the millions of men and women who lost their lives for freedom during the two World Wars, Fokaides said that the state and society have the duty not to forget and honor the people who sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy.
Minister expressed the belief that these values will prevail in the end and better days will come for all mankind. Especially, he added, for our small country which is still experiencing the consequences of the violation of human rights, freedom and principles of international law.
“It is our duty to convey to our young people the values of peace, freedom and democracy gained through hard struggles and many sacrifices. It is our obligation to nurture new generations with these ideals so that they will never experience the horror of war, “he concluded.
President of the Pancyprian Association of World War II veterans Loizos Demetriou said that “we owe an eternal debt to all those who fought and by their sacrifice saved humanity from the Nazi tyranny. The small island of Cyprus was present during both World Wars”.
Especially, he added, “ in the second World it contributed some 20,000 volunteers, men and women, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins and an additional 10,000 volunteers who were enlisted from countries abroad”.
“More than 600 were killed and the graves of those who were found are today in 56 military cemeteries in 16 different countries of Europe and Middle East” he said.
He also said that in ten concentration camps in central Europe, some 2.500 Cypriots were held until the end of hostilities some of whom died from deprivation and ill-treatment while some others were executed.
Cyprus marks Remembrance Day
