Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides sent a strong message on the continued struggle for the liberation and reunification of Cyprus during a historic speech before the Greek Parliament.
Christodoulides became only the second Cypriot president to address the Hellenic Parliament in the past 15 years, using the occasion to deliver political and symbolic messages on relations between Cyprus and Greece.
In the opening remarks of his speech, he expressed the gratitude of the Cypriot people towards Greece for the support offered during the Turkish invasion of 1974.
Reference to “Cyprus lies far away”
The Cypriot president also highlighted Greece’s recent support following the drone incident, describing it as an important gesture for Cyprus.
“It was the moral restoration of a historic pending issue that traumatically marked the collective memory, especially of my generation, with the phrase ‘Cyprus lies far away’,” he said, referring to the controversial statement attributed to former Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis during the 1974 crisis.
Despite speaking before a chamber dominated by members of Greece’s ruling New Democracy party, Christodoulides stressed how deeply the phrase had wounded Cypriots.
He added that the Greek government’s swift response to Cyprus’ request for defence support helped create “an unprecedented wave of solidarity in practice” from other European countries.
“Relations at their best point”
Christodoulides said Cyprus-Greece relations were currently “at the best point they have ever been”, attributing this to methodical, sincere and effective cooperation between the two countries.
During his address, he referred extensively to the historical ties between Cyprus and Greece and paid tribute to Greek and Cypriot fighters who sacrificed their lives during national struggles, particularly during the 1974 Turkish invasion.
“We bow before the heroic Greek officers, soldiers and civilians who answered the call and sacrificed what was most precious to prevent Turkey’s partition plans,” he said.
He added that Turkey continues to occupy 37 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
Rejection of two-state solution
The Cypriot president placed particular emphasis on the issue of missing persons, stating that “we will never rest until the fate of the last missing person of the Cyprus tragedy is determined”.
He described the ongoing occupation, settlement policy and violations of human rights in Cyprus as “one of the greatest crimes in post-war European history”.
Christodoulides reiterated that the strategic goal of the Republic of Cyprus remains the resumption of negotiations based on United Nations resolutions and European Union principles.
“From this historic podium, I want to stress in the clearest possible way that for us, a two-state solution does not exist even as a thought. We will never accept discussing the legalisation of illegality,” he said.
Message of unity
The president also said Cyprus had succeeded in returning the Cyprus issue to the international spotlight after seven years of deadlock in negotiations.
He praised Greece as Cyprus’ “most consistent and selfless ally” and highlighted the close cooperation between the two countries both bilaterally and within the European Union.
Concluding his speech, Christodoulides sent a message of unity and optimism to Greeks everywhere, saying that “the liberation and reunification of Cyprus is the vow that unites us all, in Cyprus and Greece”.
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