Military parade to mark 49 years since Cyprus’ independence

The Republic of Cyprus celebrates the 49th anniversary since independence and will mark the occasion with a military parade.

The Defence Ministry has announced that infantry units, artillery and naval forces, members of the Greek military contingent – stationed in Cyprus in accordance with the 1960 Treaty of Establishment of the Republic – the police, the fire brigade, the forestry and the civil defence forces will participate in the parade.

President Demetris Christofias will take the salute of the parade, in the presence of the political, military and religious leadership.

On behalf of the Greek government and after an invitation by the Cypriot Defence Minister, his counterpart, Evangelos Meimarakis will be at the military parade.

Cyprus, a former British colony, became an independent Republic in 1960, is a UN member and a member of the Commonwealth in 1961. The Republic of Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since May 2004. According to the 1960 treaties that established the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the UK are the guarantors of Cyprus' independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

In 1974, Turkey invaded the island and occupies since then about 37 % of the sovereign territory of the Republic. Hundreds of Greek Cypriots – including women and children – are listed as missing since 1974, many of whom were last seen alive in the hands of the Turkish military.

President of Cyprus Republic, Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in UN-led direct negotiations since September 2008, with an aim to reunite the island.