House Speaker and DISY President Annita Demetriou has defended the choice to play a single anthem during the Cyprus–Greece EuroBasket game, dismissing criticism and emphasising national pride.
Speaking on Protoselido, Dimitriou congratulated organisers for successfully hosting an international event of such scale, calling it “an opportunity to show that Cyprus can host initiatives of this magnitude. Sport can often open small diplomatic windows more easily.”
On the symbolic significance of Cyprus and Greece playing as one team, she addressed those who expressed discomfort at a single anthem being played: “For God’s sake, what bothered them? This is who we are- we are Greeks of Cyprus. Because this reminds me of previous unpleasant incidents involving the questioning of our heroes, we will not accept anyone trying to tarnish our national memory and national consciousness. These things do not help our country. Only pride for this day. Let us hold on to the positive moments and wish success to both Cyprus and Greece.”
She added that for Cyprus it is a major challenge to safeguard Hellenism: “This is not achieved by questioning our history or our heroes. Such attempts are deliberate, with political motives to alter history and impose a so-called modern approach. We disagree. If anything can sustain us in difficult times and secure our future, it is holding firm to our principles and values. Some people are heroes- they sacrificed themselves. What we achieve by questioning this is only discord.”
Demetriou concluded that the real issue is not internal division, but Turkey’s actions: “What we should care about is the Turkification of our occupied territories, what Turkey is doing with our five compatriots in our seas.”
Also read: House President appeals to EU over arrests of Greek Cypriots
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