“Greece and the Republic of Cyprus are called in the middle of a new cold war together, as EU member states, to redesign their strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean, but also for Euro-Turkish relations”, said the president of SYRIZA-PS, Alexis Tsipras speaking at the memorial event for Vasos Lyssaridis in Cyprus.

The event took place in the birthplace of Vasos Lyssaridis, Lefkara, which gave him the honor of naming its central square.

Mr. Tsipras expressed the “deep emotion and feeling of respect that I am with you today in this event of honor and memory of a great international radiation, a personality not only of Hellenism and Cyprus, but a global personality”. Referring to the personality of Vasos Lyssaridis, he emphasized, among other things: “Today we honor the politician, the doctor, the fighter, but above all the special person, Vasos Lyssaridis. A man who, through his long life, his political career, his spiritual, poetic and artistic work, but also his science, Medicine, through his struggle at all levels of life, gave universal messages, which they unite us all. They inspired us in the difficult years where he lived, they inspire us today, they will always inspire us.

His life, his journey and especially his struggle inspires us even today because he was based on ideals and because he was uninterrupted throughout his life.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with every moment, with every turn, with every choice made by Vasos Lyssaridis, one must recognize the integrity of a man who never gave up even in the most difficult moments and wrote history, always following his values. And as long as the Turkish troops will keep Cyprus divided, Vassos Lyssaridis will always be present in the struggles and anxieties of the Cypriot people”.

Referring to the international situation and the challenges for Greece and Cyprus, he noted: “Greece and Cyprus, we are called to promote a strategy that will be visionary, worthy of our historical role and capabilities, but at the same time it will be realistic, far from dead ends maxims. Which will establish our role in the new energy architecture of the region, connecting the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and North Africa, with the Balkans and the rest of Europe. Connecting the European North with the South. A strategy that will prioritize the defense of our sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially from our neighbors, but, as a priority, the defense of rights vis-à-vis the international actor as well. Which will prioritize the just and sustainable solution of the Cypriot issue on the basis of UN decisions, without guarantees and occupying troops, for the benefit of all the Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. A solution for which, as you know, we fought.

A strategy that will prioritize a dialogue of recession and confidence building with Turkey, but on the basis of international law, with the ultimate goal of The Hague. Which will utilize the dynamics of solidarity created after the tragic, bloody earthquake in Turkey to put Greek-Turkish relations and Cypriot but also Euro-Turkish relations on a new trajectory. Like the one we fought for especially in the 2015-2016 period, before the coup in Turkey.”

Referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the stance that Greece and Cyprus should take, he said: “Greece and the Republic of Cyprus will never play with international law with a logic of “two measures and two stations”. We will not play the games of a shrewd neutral in the face of the illegal and bloody Russian invasion. At the same time, however, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus should have the autonomy and choose the way in which they will show their solidarity to the Ukrainian people, not others choosing for us the way in which we will show solidarity. Supporting, at the same time, through the EU, the effort to end the Russian invasion and to return to diplomacy”.

But he also referred to the social challenges of the time “remembering and honoring not only the insubordinate fighter, but also the socialist Vasos Lyssaridis. Because, Vassos Lysaridis did not only fight for freedom, but also for justice. For the fair redistribution of wealth. For equality. He was a socialist who dedicated his life to man and to the struggle for a society without exploitation. And this is a powerful example for all of us, progressives, leftists, socialists, democrats that this is the common reference point. Especially today when the inequalities at global level and also within our societies are growing rapidly. Today, when everyone recognizes that neoliberalism has led to dead ends in our economies and societies. Today, as more and more people recognize that markets cannot be left to self-regulate, they are not self-regulating. Because markets always have as their main goal and motivation to maximize their profits, there must therefore be a regulatory role of the state that will set some limit for the benefit of justice”.