“Whatever Mr. Erdogan and his representatives in the occupied areas do or say, Turkey, 50 years later, remains responsible for the violation of human rights of the entire Cypriot people and for the violation of international law,” President Nikos Christodoulides stated.
He was speaking to journalists after attending the Synodal Memorial Service, presided over by Archbishop Georgios, and the Members of the Holy Synod, for the fallen during the Turkish invasion and a prayer for the liberation, the return of refugees, and the discovery of the missing, at the Metropolitan Church of Apostle Varnavas in Kokkinotrimithia.
“It is a difficult day for all, a day of remembrance, a day of honour for all those who fought and sacrificed for the existence of the Republic of Cyprus today.”
“Half a century has passed since the Turkish invasion, half a century of occupation, half a century of living with the consequences of the barbaric Turkish invasion.”
“At the same time, in these 50 years, despite the efforts of some, the Republic of Cyprus is here, the Cypriot people, with sacrifices, managed to stand on their feet, to progress, to strengthen and consolidate the Republic of Cyprus. But we have not completed our mission. Our mission is liberation, reunification, the resolution of the Cyprus problem.”
“If we want to send a message on this tragic anniversary, truly honouring all those who sacrificed themselves for us to exist today, it is to do whatever is possible to reunite our homeland.”
Asked how the Government views the events taking place in the occupied areas today in the presence of the Turkish President, President Christodoulides said, “These are the repetitive rhetoric and attempts of the occupation regime. Whatever Mr. Erdogan and his representatives in the occupied areas do or say, Turkey, 50 years later, remains responsible for the violation of human rights of the entire Cypriot people and for the violation of international law.”
“If Turkey truly desires conditions of security and stability in the wider region, if it truly wishes to move closer to the EU, with all the benefits that entails for Turkey itself, and if it wants to participate in the efforts of the states in the region for regional stability and security, it knows very well what path to take.”
“From our side, we know very well what we want, we know how to achieve it, we do not complain, and we are here to do whatever is necessary to liberate our homeland and reunite it. For us, there is no other choice.”
Asked if the Greek-Turkish dialogue should go through Cyprus, President Christodoulides said, “The Greek-Turkish dialogue goes through Cyprus, and there cannot be – and this is also from the most official Greek mouths – full normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations without resolving the Cyprus problem. What do we seek? We seek to take advantage of this positive climate that seems to exist for the benefit of resolving the Cyprus problem as well.”
Asked if there is any news from the UN Secretary-General, the President said, “Let’s wait for some announcements from the Secretary-General. I cannot preempt either the announcements or his decisions or the timeframe, but yes, the messages I receive are in a positive direction.”
