Cyprus honours those killed during the two World Wars

Cyprus commemorated Friday those killed during the two World Wars, in a ceremony held at the War Memorial in Nicosia, to mark November 11, which is Remembrance Day.

In his address at the ceremony, President Papadopoulos said that
“our small country Cyprus has made its own contribution to this global mobilisation to protect freedom and democracy, which is disproportionate to its size as thousands of Cypriots voluntarily joined the Allied forces and many of them sacrificed their life.”

During World War II, 30.000 Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots served with devotion, zeal and self-denial the ideals of democracy and freedom for all peoples, he recalled.

“They fought far away from home, on many fronts, defending freedom, universal justice and world peace. Countries where Cypriots fought won their freedom and enjoy the fruits of peace, while our island remained under foreign occupation, under British colonial rule,” Papadopoulos added.

He said that sixty two years after the end of Second World War, Cyprus does not enjoy true freedom and peace and is the tragic victim of the brutal Turkish invasion.

“For 33 years now, one half of our country is occupied and vandalised and the other half is under threat,” he said.

The President said that Cypriots are fighting an unequal and long battle for for freedom and survival, as laid down by the history of the country, the message of the ‘Day of Remembrance’, and the millions of people honoured on this day.

“Cyprus and its citizens, as residents of a British colony at the time, had no legal obligation to fight in the War. They only had a moral obligation to fight, stemming from their belief in universal values and principles and their loathing for racism and fascism,” he recalled.

In his address, President of the Cyprus Veterans’ Association World War II Loizos Demetriou said “the small island of Cyprus was present in both World Wars, with 30,000 volunteers, men and women, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who saw active service in most war fronts. More than 600 were killed and their graves are found in 56 military cemeteries in 16 different countries in Europe and the Middle East.”.

He added that “in ten war camps in central Europe, some 2.500 Cypriots were held until the end of hostilities. At least 35 died from deprivation and ill-treatment, while some were executed.”

House President Demetris Christofias, Defence Minister Christodoulos Pashiardes, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Veterans of World War II, foreign diplomats, military attaches and other officials were also present at the ceremony.

A two minute silence was observed during the ceremony, as it is traditionally observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – the precise time when the armistice with Germany that ended World War I was signed and peace was declared throughout Europe.

Wreaths were laid at the memorial by President Papadopoulos and other officials who attended the ceremony.

Cyprus House President Demetris Christofias said that the message of such ceremonies is that people must intensify their struggle so that peace can prevail.

He also wished that everybody will join forces so that all the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, will breathe the air of freedom.