The union “Union of Wives / Children Missing 1619” issued a statement denouncing the Cypriot MEP, Phidias Panagiotou for “irony, mockery and discredit”.

In particular, they claim that when the 24-year-old was asked to promote the issue of missing persons in the European Parliament, he behaved inappropriately towards members of the Association, mocking and mocking them.

As he states, “it is with great sadness and disappointment that we are asked to refer to the unfortunate incident that took place on Saturday, July 20, during the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus tragedy. At the end of the event, members of the group (ten in number), approached the MEP Phidias Panagiotou and asked him for his support on the matter of our missing persons”.

“He was asked, if he wanted, to organize an event in the European Parliament where we would be invited and talk about the issue of the missing and he was also asked to take a picture together and we asked him to write his own comment about the fight we are doing to find him of the remaining missing persons”, he notes.

He emphasizes that, “besides his denial, which to a certain extent we understand, we received irony, mockery and disparagement, with expressions such as, ‘you have a great idea of ​​yourself’, ‘who do you think you are’, ‘in Yes, this is how the European Parliament works”, “Yes, I have a missing uncle, but I don’t act like this” and the finale, “Yes, only you, my daughter, who is an orphan”.

“We quote the above and which were said in the presence of the “Initiative Team” but also of people who happened to be at the event and were there during the discussion and whose names we also have. It is good for Mr. Panagiotou to know that the supreme sacrifice of someone for his country is to give his own life,” the announcement states.

“50 years ago, some people gave their lives so that you, Mr. Panagiotou, could enjoy the freedom and benefits from this state, which you now have the honor of representing in the European Parliament. We await your apology to every mother, wife, sibling and child of a missing person,” he concludes.