Turkey, much like in the case of the recognition of the Genocide of the Pontian Greeks, must first and foremost understand that its path to Europe inevitably passes through Cyprus, said President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides on Monday evening.
Speaking at a memorial event in Paralimni marking the Genocide of the Pontian Greeks, President Christodoulides noted the relevance of Cyprus in regional geopolitics and in Turkey’s European aspirations.
“Recent developments, the result of our targeted diplomatic efforts, combined with the evolving geopolitical landscape in our region and the growing international role of the Republic of Cyprus, are creating a new momentum,” he said.
“Turkey, however — as with the issue of acknowledging the genocide of the Pontian Greeks — must understand that its European future runs unavoidably through Cyprus.”
President Christodoulides linked the memory of the Pontian Genocide to Cyprus’ own struggle, noting that “as Greek Cypriots, we continue our own long-standing fight. More than 50 years after the Turkish invasion and 70 years since the beginning of EOKA’s liberation struggle of 1955–59, peace and unity on the island remain unfulfilled goals.”
“Our divided homeland,” he continued, “still awaits liberation — due to the 1974 invasion, the ongoing occupation, and the continued illegal presence of Turkish troops. In 1974, Cypriot Hellenism endured a devastating blow. Like the Greeks of Asia Minor, Cappadocia, and Pontus before them, thousands were violently uprooted, forced to abandon their ancestral homes, to flee to the free areas or abroad, and to rebuild their lives from scratch.”
President Christodoulides also recalled the 1974 transfer of Cypriot prisoners of war to the prisons of Amasya in the Pontus region, the same site where, in September 1921, 168 prominent Pontic Greeks, including clergy, intellectuals, and community leaders, were executed by the Young Turks in their “independence courts.”
“In that same place,” he said, “our own prisoners — tortured, exhausted, and broken — found themselves during the tragic summer of 1974. Pontus and Cyprus were united in their suffering, both victims of a shared crime.”
He concluded by stressing the importance of remembrance and the fight for justice. “As Cypriot refugees — like all Greeks who were uprooted — we continue, through monuments, churches, commemorative events, and other actions, to keep alive the memory of our origins, while steadfastly demanding liberation, peace, and the reunification of our homeland.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Also read: Kombos talks Schengen and EU Presidency with Cyprus MEPs
Source: CNA
