President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has sent a message of unity and paid tribute to those killed during the Turkish invasion against Cyprus in the summer of 1974.
In statements at the formal memorial service which was held at the Faneromeni Church in Nicosia for those killed during the invasion, the President also sent to the people of Cyprus a message of optimism, expressing conviction that Cyprus will be able to overcome its economic problems.
“Today, we pay tribute to those missing and to all those who lost their lives so that our country, the Republic of Cyprus, can struggle for freedom”, he stressed.
The Cypriot President pointed out the need for unity, noting that unity is important for the struggle for justice.
Asked about the economic situation in Cyprus, the President expressed optimism, saying that “we are on the right path”.
“I am sure that through coordinated policies, joint actions and the support of our society we can overcome any problems”, he went on to say.
President Anastasiades noted that the Cypriot people have experienced worse conditions in the past but managed to stand on their feet.
“And we will stand on our feet this time as well”, he concluded.
Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974, following a military coup that toppled the legal government of the Republic which was engineered with the Greek military junta.
In a two-phase invasion and despite repeated calls by the UN Security Council, Turkey occupied 37% of the sovereign territory of the Republic. Ankara continues to maintain some 40,000 troops in the northern areas of Cyprus it occupies, in complete disregard to appeals for their withdrawal and calls to contribute to a political settlement through peace talks.
The consequences of Turkey’s illegal aggression were devastating and are still felt today by the Cypriot people: gross violation of human rights, with hundreds of people still listed as missing, Greek Cypriot refugees in anticipation of a solution that would allow them to return home, enclaved Greek Cypriots being deprived of fundamental rights and the island’s 9,000 year old cultural heritage being pillaged.
UN backed talks were halted in July 2012 by the Turkish side when Cyprus assumed the EU Council Presidency. It is expected that talks will resume in the autumn.
