The President of the Republic Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis attended today the Synodal Meeting, headed by His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus, Mr. Georgios, of the Members of the Holy Synod, where a memorial service was held for those who fell during the Turkish invasion and a prayer for the liberation, the return of the refugees and the finding of the missing, at the Metropolitan Church of Apostle Varnavas, in Kokkinotrimithia.

In his statements to journalists after the memorial service, the President of the Republic said that “It is a difficult day for everyone, a day of remembrance, a day of honor for all those who fought, sacrificed so that the Republic of Cyprus exists today.

50 years have passed, half a century since the Turkish invasion, half a century of occupation, half a century we are living the consequences of the barbaric Turkish invasion.

At the same time, in these 50 years, and despite the efforts of some, the Republic of Cyprus is here, the Cypriot people with sacrifices managed to stand on their feet, to progress, managed to shield and strengthen the Republic of Cyprus. But, we have not completed our mission. Our mission is the liberation, the reunification, the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

If we want to send a message on this tragic anniversary, truly honoring all those who sacrificed so that we can exist today, it is to do everything possible to reunite our country.”

Asked how the Government monitors what is happening today in the occupied territories in the presence of the Turkish President, President Christodoulidis said that “it is these repeated rhetorics, the efforts of occupying Turkey. Whatever he does, whatever Mr. Erdogan and his representatives in the occupied territories say, Turkey, 50 years later, continues to be responsible for the violation of human rights of the entire Cypriot people, for the violation of international law.

If Turkey really wants conditions of security and stability to prevail in the wider region, if Turkey really wants to get closer to the EU, with all the benefits that entail for Turkey itself, and if it wants to participate in this effort of the states of the region for regional stability and security, knows very well what the path is to achieve this.

For our part we know very well what we want, we know how to achieve it, we do not hesitate and we are here to do everything possible to liberate our country and reunite it. For us there is no other choice.”

When asked if the Greek-Turkish dialogue should pass through Cyprus, the President of the Republic said that “the Greek-Turkish dialogue passes through Cyprus and there cannot be – and this is also from the most official Greek lips – a complete normalization of Greek-Turkish relations without the resolution of the Cyprus issue. What are we pursuing? We seek to make use of this positive climate that seems to exist for the benefit of the Cyprus solution as well.”

Asked if there is anything new from the UN Secretary General, the President of the Republic said “Let’s expect some announcements from the Secretary General. I can’t predict his announcements or his decisions or the time frame, but yes, the messages I’m getting are in a positive direction.”