President Nikos Christodoulides has repeated the state’s apology for the errors and omissions that led to the deadly Mari explosion, assuring the public that every effort is being made to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The President delivered the memorial address at the annual service for the 13 people killed in the 11 July 2011 explosion at the “Evangelos Florakis” naval base, held at the Holy Church of the Holy New Martyrs. Christodoulides noted that the state must learn from the tragedy and take all necessary measures to ensure such events never happen again.
The state is doing everything humanly possible through institutionalised procedures, continuous training, strict protocols, and international practices to limit potential risks, act preventively, and provide security across all sectors, the President said.
He also stressed that taking responsibility is the ultimate virtue of those appointed to serve the public, noting that the 13 heroes of Mari define the duty of all public officials to act responsibly and remain constantly accountable to citizens.
President Christodoulides repeated the state’s apology to the families of the victims and noted that the fatal blast at Mari cost 13 people their lives unjustly, destroyed the country’s primary energy hub, caused massive financial damage, and plunged Cyprus into an unprecedented crisis.
As President of the Republic of Cyprus, he felt a duty to express sincere apologies on behalf of the state and to ask for forgiveness for the mistakes and omissions that led to the deadly explosion, he added.
Paying tribute to the fallen, he named Captain Andreas Ioannides, Commander Lambros Lambrou, Chief Petty Officer Kleanthis Kleanthous, Petty Officer Michalis Heracleous, sailors Miltos Christoforou, Christakis Christoforou, and Antonis Charalampous, Fire Service Chief Sergeant Andreas Papadopoulos, Chief Firefighter George Giakoumi, and firefighters Vassilis Krokos, Spyros Ttantis, Panayiotis Theofilou, and Adamos Adamou. He noted that they honoured the oath they gave to their country until the final moment of their lives.
The President stated that the 13 heroes reported for duty and fought an unequal battle against an asymmetric danger, which proved fatal.
However, he underlined that the country remains permanently exposed because it failed to provide them with proper safety, adding that this unfulfilled debt torments the collective memory and conscience of the Cypriot people.
Referring to the significance of the anniversary, he said that today is an opportunity to look at priorities so that a similar tragedy is never experienced again, while describing 11 July as a day for which the state feels shame but at the same time reflection.
He also pointed out that Mari serves as a reminder that the state must guarantee the safety of human life and critical infrastructure, particularly in a country that remains under occupation. The consolidation of a sense of security is a top priority for any state, he concluded.
