The Cypriot political leadership, representatives of the Greek government and parliament, honoured on Friday the officers and soldiers who died defending the Republic of Cyprus on July 20 1974, when the Turkish invasion of the island began.
A memorial service was held at the military cemetery of Makedonitissa in Nicosia, in the presence of President Tassos Papadopoulos.
Also present were the President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, Ministers, leaders and representatives of political parties, Greek Ambassador Demetris Rallis, the leadership of the National Guard and the Police, representatives of combatants during the invasion and relatives of those who lost their lives.
Greece was represented by Minister of National Education and Religion Marietta Yiannakou and a parliamentary delegation.
After the memorial service, led by Archbishop Chrysostomos II, wreaths were laid at the monument of those who died, followed by a muster roll and a minute’s silence in their memory.
Air-raid sirens wailed at 0530 local time (0230 GMT), when the Turkish invasion began with the landing of Turkish troops on the island’s northern shores.
A series of other anti-occupation events will take place during the day. Political parties have issued statements condemning the Turkish invasion and occupation.
An all-night vigil was held on Thursday in Athens, during which the Union of Cypriots in Greece (EKE), in cooperation with the Federation of Cypriot Organisations in Greece (OKOE) and the Cypriot Embassy in Athens, marked the 33rd anniversary of the Turkish invasion.
The participants in the demonstration, which included relatives of missing persons, former prisoners of war, Greek Cypriots living in the enclaves in the occupied areas, refugees and relatives of those killed, gathered in front of the monument for the unknown soldier and lit 33 candles, symbolising the number of years since the invasion.
EKE President Loizos Loizos said the international community “remains apathetic to the ongoing crime, equates the immolator with the victim and is indifferent to the cries of agony sent out every day by the refugees.â€
Cypriot Ambassador George Georgis said “we are striving for a united Cyprus for all its inhabitants, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,†noting that Hellenism was mourning 33 years since the invasion and occupation, which is “the greatest tragedy of the nation since the Asia Minor catastrophe.â€
Furthermore, members of EKE and OKOE met at the Greek parliament with its leadership and representatives of Greek political parties, and handed a joint declaration concerning the anniversary of the Turkish invasion.
