“The Greeks all over the world, we share beautiful moments, on this anniversary that reminds us that Cyprus stood still thanks to the sacrifices of all those whom we honour today.
It is the day when Cypriot Hellenism sends a message of determination, courage and pride. We saw Cyprus’ conscripts passing before our eyes and we caught through this glance their excellent appearance, a message of certainty and confidence.
What I would wish to tell you here today as Greece’s Minister of National Defence is that Cyprus is not alone. The Motherland with all its forces stands at its side. And we all together, by supporting the initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus’ President, we expect and look forward to achieving one day what all Cypriots, Greek and Turkish Cypriots deeply wish: to live in a unified, indivisible, strong Cyprus within a greater European family.
Today Cyprus showed its strength, its determination. It showed that Cyprios Hellenism is always ready to stand still against any form of threat. But it also sent a message of security and peace to the wider region. Because Cyprus’ defence system is at the services of international legitimacy and Cyprus can play an important role of stability and stabilisation for the common initiatives we assume at these hard moments for the wider region. In this manner, all these difficulties can be overcome and we will be able to move on as a neighbourhood, as the region of South-Eastern Europe, but of the whole world as well, on a path of peace, cooperation and co-existence.
To achieve all that, Cyprus, despite the difficulties and pressures actually caused by the financial circumstances, must possess and maintain a reliable and strong defence system.
Greece offers its own services, its knowledge, its experience, its people. Through the cooperation programmes we have been carrying out, one of which will be signed by the two Defence Ministers today, we send another message: that during all this course, before these facts, Greece will be the strongest factor to ensure the integrity and independence of the Republic of Cyprus.
I wish the efforts made lately will bring the desired results: that prudence and reason will prevail and that the leaderships of the neighbouring countries will receive the messages of our times and work with us to create an environment of security, peace and cooperation and that we see Cyprus united again one day, so that next year we can all together, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, celebrate the independence of Cyprus. An independence based on those fundamental principles for which we all work: an indivisible, strong, united Cyprus that will bring its citizens close to each other again.
This is the message of the day. Greece will always be the strongest supporter of our Cyprus on this course and the new prospects which has been opened through Europe and which – don’t have any doubt on that – will soon give us a Cyprus united, indivisible and strong.
Congratulations for today’s anniversary.”