In memory of hero Minas Konstantinou

13 July 2025, Denia village

This year marks 51 years since the treacherous coup. The In has brought us here today to honor him and, with him, all the other heroes of the resistance against the fascist coup of the Greek junta and EOKA B and the subsequent barbaric Turkish invasion.

Minas was born in Denia in 1943. His parents, Konstantis and Eva, were poor but proud and dignified people. They raised their children with values and ideals. For a more just, humane, and democratic society.

From an early age, Minas sought work to contribute to the income of his large family. He experienced firsthand all the difficulties of the times, which further steeled his character and forged his beliefs.

In 1964, he enlisted in the National Guard, which had just been formed due to the intercommunal clashes of 1963-64. He served as a conscript in Tillyria and fought in the battles of Mansoura, experiencing the horrors of war.

Before he was discharged, he got engaged to the love of his life, Androulla, and they were married in June 1965. Together they had two children, Panikos and Chrysoula. Unfortunately, the dark days of July 1974 cut short his life, permitting him to enjoy his beautiful family for only nine years.

After being discharged, Minas worked hard as a construction worker. When the fascist coup broke out, Minas rushed to defend democracy, as did thousands of other young people with a democratic conscience.

On 16 July, he was arrested by the coupists. He was imprisoned in Kokkinotrimithia, where he was tortured along with others. The tragic thing was that the right-wing newspapers, which supported the coup, ran headlines saying “no leftists have been arrested.” Hundreds of leftists wondered what they were doing in prison cells and mocked each other, ridiculing the coupists for their lies.

When the Turkish invasion began, most of the coupists fled to the Troodos mountain range to escape fighting in the frontline. The young democrats rushed to the front lines to defend their homeland. As did Minas. He enlisted in the 306th Infantry Battalion in Kythrea. His unit was transferred to Agios Georgios in Kyrenia. There they fought a fierce battle with the invading Turkish army. Since then, there has been no trace of him…

Honor and glory to Minas!

Honor and glory to all the heroes of democracy and the homeland!

To those who resisted at the Presidential Palace, the Archbishopric, the Police Headquarters, and the working class neighborhood of Kaimakli.

To those who resisted the coup at police stations and the “Eftapato” in Limassol. At the police station in Larnaca and the ambush of the coupists in Kolossi. In Paphos, where Makarios refuted the junta-controlled state-owned radio station RIK which was transmitting that Makarios was dead, calling on the people to resist.

To those who were arrested and abused by the fascists in every village and every neighborhood of Cyprus.

To those who were tortured to death.

In those dramatic moments of our history, not all Cypriots were on the same side. No matter how much anti-Makarios and anti-communist elements had concealed their true colours in previous years, on July 15, 1974, they revealed their real face – whether through their participation in the coupist ‘government’ or through their shameful congratulatory telegrams they sent to it.

Dozens of prominent figures and organizations of the bourgeois Greek Cypriot Right, including APOEL football club, the right-wing trade union confederation SEK, the Larnaca Committee of the “Unified Party,” which was then Clerides’ party, and even the Police Association, rushed to side with the coup from the very first day. We recall these aspects of history because only if we bear them in mind can we understand today’s political reality.

Back then, the Right and the far right were trying to lull the people to sleep with false promises and flamboyant sloganeering. They portrayed themselves as ultra-patriots who were ready to ‘throw their enemies into the sea’. Their sick nationalism and fanaticism, their intolerance and short-sightedness, led Cyprus to the brink of disaster. Is this not what is happening today? They say one thing to the people and say something different behind closed doors. Time has moved on, we are being delivered lessons in patriotism, but Cyprus is still hanging on by a thread.

They call the coup an act carried out by “fools,” about a supposed “civil war,” about “young men who were led astray.”

But who are they talking about?

The EOKA B members who to this very day still declare themselves as being proud and unrepentant for what they did?

The Greek junta supporters who were shouting that they wanted “Mouskos” (Note: fascist’s derogatory term of President Makarios) to leave and “let them watch Nicosia burn” from their prison cells?

For Greek junta boss Bonanos, who cynically told the Parliamentary Committee on the Cyprus File that he did not notify the Cypriot National Guard of the invasion because “he had other things to do”?

For Greek junta National Guard Commander Georgitsis’ testimony that the then Chief of the Greek Armed Forces had given instructions to permit the Turks “for reasons of honor and prestige, to land somewhere in the Kyrenia area”?

Or about Syros the EOKA B leader who was arrested with plans for the execution of a coup d’etat in his hands?

What about EOKA B founder and leader Grivas who signed the coup plans?

History is stubborn. The more they try to hide it, the more it exposes them. It reveals that Cyprus was betrayed in July 1974, both from within and from abroad.

We do not need any myths to cover us up. We are always willing to discuss history. But let us discuss all aspects of history.

Every year, DISY right-wing party crowns Grivas with laurels. With eulogies, church services, and speeches about the great work of the “Leader.” But they say nothing about the formation of the treacherous EOKA B or his role in preparing the treacherous coup. They say nothing about what Glafkos Clerides said about Grivas in an outburst of sincerity when he accused Grivas in the House of Representatives of ordering political assassinations, calling him a murderer? That he threatened to name him as a traitor to his country?

They apportion responsibilities for the coup and the invasion among everyone. They say nothing about those who resisted and those who betrayed, except in passing. They do not talk about the role of the Soviet Union, which was on one side defending the Republic of Cyprus. About the role of the US and NATO, which were plotting to overthrow the Republic.

They talk about “civil war.” But when will they talk about the thousands of honest patriots who defended the Republic and their homeland with their very lives and rallied around Makarios’ independent policy?

When will they talk about how a handful of EOKA B armed thugs, conscious fascists who carried out the orders of the Greek junta, conspired against an entire people, devouring the heart of Cyprus like a cancer?

They engage in pompous rhetoric about those who rushed to resist the invader. But when will they talk about those who, during the coup, pretended to be super patriots with their Kalashnikovs, but when the Turkish invading army entered Kyrenia, ran to hide in the Troodos mountain range and sent our children to the front line to fight unarmed?

The greatest honor for the heroism of all those who fought for Cyprus is the liberation of our people and their vindication through the reunification of our country.

After the failure of the Crans-Montana talks and the way Anastasiades handled the issues, Turkey was exonerated. Its provocations intensified. It proceeded with illegal activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone (of the Republic of Cyprus) and in unlawful machinations in Famagusta. These were actions that we as AKEL had predicted and warned about. Unfortunately, the government dismissed us and assured us that Cyprus would be protected, while talking about Turkey supposedly engaging in communication tactics. The protagonist in all this was the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and current President of the Republic, Nicos Christodoulides.

The assumption by Ersin Tatar of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community facilitates Turkey’s plans. With the “right” given to them by Nicos Anastasiades’ treacherous act to talk about a two state solution, whilst they insist on their unacceptable demand for partition. All this has undermined the Cypriot people’s belief that the Cyprus problem can be solved.

AKEL is not giving up. It will continue to fight for a solution and reunification.

We have gone through a long period without any meaningful dialogue. With unacceptable demands and provocations from Turkey and constant backtracking from the Greek Cypriot side. With the questioning of what has been agreed and the submission of “new ideas”. All this significantly weakens the prospect of resuming dialogue that will lead to the desired result. On the one hand, Turkey openly questions the agreed framework and puts the two-state solution on the table. On the other hand, it is now clear that Mr. Christodoulides has so far failed to focus on the essence of the problem.

What is the obstacle to the resumption of substantive talks within the agreed framework?

It is the unacceptable demand put forward by the Turkish side for a two-state solution.

This is precisely where Nicos Christodoulides should focus his attention on . He should move them away from their unacceptable demand by presenting incentives that do not violate our “red lines” and do not prejudge the content of the solution.

AKEL submitted a relevant proposal to Anastasiades in December 2020, which he rejected without even considering it. The same proposal was submitted to N. Christodoulides, who has also failed to take it into account.

Our proposal is simple. We are ready to resume the talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana. However, this alone is not enough. We must commit ourselves that if the Turkish side comes to the talks on the basis of the agreed framework, we will submit bridging proposals that do not go beyond our “red lines” with the intention of contributing towards the waging of a substantive discussion. We should also say that if Turkey cooperates within the agreed framework, this time we are ready to go all the way.

At the same time, we must give incentives to the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. We must tell the Turkish Cypriots that if we agree on the six points of the Guterres Framework, they will participate in decision-making on natural gas.

Turkey is interested in approaching the EU.

If it helps us achieve the proper solution, then we will help it on this path, provided that it meets all the criteria.

At the same time, we should say that we are ready, after the solution of the Cyprus problem, to start talks in two directions on the possibility of commercial cooperation and on the most appropriate way to transport natural gas from the Mediterranean basin to the EU and other destinations.

If N. Christodoulides means what he says that he wants a solution, he should at long last give some thought to AKEL’s proposal.

The UN Secretary-General’s initiative is currently underway and is expected to culminate in a new conference in July. Unfortunately, so far no agreement has been reached, except on issues of very minor importance. The arrival of the UN Secretary General envoy on Cyprus Ms. Olgin does not seem capable of breaking the deadlock as it stands.

President Christodoulides must realize that the more time passes by, it becomes much more difficult to resolve the Cyprus issue and we are moving closer to a permanent division.

Partition means a border with Turkey within our own homeland.

With a state that will be the subject of continuous colonisation (of the occupied areas) and constantly arming itself. Inevitably, at some point, it will seek to expand. In other words, if partition were to prevail, we will have to forget Cyprus as we know it.

The only way to avert the danger of partition is to resume talks aimed at a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as set out in the relevant UN Resolutions.

A solution that will lead to a united state, a continuation of the Republic of Cyprus. With a single sovereignty, a single citizenship, and a single international personality.

A solution that frees us from the occupation and the intervention rights of any third party.

We insist on resisting any compromise with the barbed wire fence of division and with the scenario of handing over half of our homeland to Turkey.

We insist on strengthening the common front of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots against nationalism and neo-fascism, for peace and the reunification of our homeland.

N. Christodoulides, realizing the outcry against him from society, is attempting to appease it by engaging in communication games. He is giving everything to the US, a country that has drowned the entire region and beyond in blood in order to further its own interests. A country that bears enormous responsibility for the tragedy that we continue to suffer as Cyprus.

At the same time, N.Christodoulides announces that he will seek Cyprus’ accession to NATO, a military alliance that has destroyed many countries to date, including Cyprus. He says this to impress public opinion, implying that we have achieved “diplomatic victories”. He says this knowing that NATO has repeatedly rejected such a possibility. Aware that Turkey will never accept such a move with the Cyprus problem unresolved. His action was so hasty that it forced the social democrats of EDEK to speak of a big mistake and Democratic Party leader N. Papadopoulos to say that it is naive to think that Turkey will permit us to join NATO without a solution to the Cyprus issue. It forced the Foreign Minister to say that this discussion is pointless at this time.

While engaging in these actions, they are trying to convince us that they are on the right side of history.

Is the right side of history to tolerate Netanyahu’s atrocities?

To tolerate the genocide of the Palestinian people by remaining silent?

To ignore the decisions of the International Court of Justice to arrest Netanyahu as a war criminal?

When testimony was given to the Parliamentary Committee on the Cyprus File, one of the leaders of the coup and Grivas’s right-hand man was asked, “Was the order to mobilize the National Guard against Makarios an act of treason? Yes or no?” His answer was immediate and categorical: No!

It is astonishing how these people, despite the olive branch, have remained unrepentant. Fascists to this day. Some have found refuge in the DISY Right-wing party, others found refuge in the far right and neo-fascist organizations, whilst others settled into political and state positions and posts.

They never gave an account of their actions.

They were never punished.

Perhaps this is what has bred their audacity.

The best response to them is for all of us to remember and raise awareness.

Their greatest punishment will be to be consigned to the dustbin of history by the vindication of our dead, the resurrection of our country, by struggling to achieve peace, reunification, and progress for our homeland.

Glory and honor to Minas Konstantinou!

Glory and honor to the memory of all our heroes!