The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the HNDGS Chief Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis (HN), the HAGS Chief Lt General Vassileios Tellides, and the HAFGS Chief Lt General Christos Vaitsis, awarded the Commendation of Star of Merit and Honour to the Historical Memory Council of the EOKA (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) 1955-1959, to the EOKA 1955-1959 Liberation Struggle Foundation and the EOKA 1955-1959 Fighters Associations for their contribution to the safekeeping and the dissemination of the historical memory of the National Liberation Struggle of EOKA 1955-1959.
The Minister of National Defence in his address, stated the following:
“With national pride we have gathered here today to award the Star of Merit and Honour Commendation to the Council of Historical Memory of the EOKA Struggle 1955-1959, to the EOKA 1955-1959 Liberation Struggle Foundation, as well as to the EOKA 1955-1959 Fighters Associations.
The commendation of the Star of Merit and Honour you are awarded, is destined for citizens who have engaged in acts and services of excellence of benefit to the Armed Forces and the Greek Nation.
You, with your presence over the years, your constant efforts and interminable struggle have contributed to the safekeeping and dissemination of the memory of the National Liberation Struggle of the EOKA 1955-1959 and hence to the flourish of national values and traditions.
Today we are honouring and commemorating the immortal heroes of the EOKA 1955-1959 liberation struggle.
A struggle, which like the long-standing commands of history led to the heroic outbreak of a nation which could no longer live under the yoke of slavery and humiliation.
It was a struggle of self-determination and freedom, to which the Hellenism of Cyprus responded united, giving lessons of heroism and true patriotism to the foreign occupiers.
An uneven bloodshed struggle, with inhuman tortures. However, the obstinacy of our people for freedom and the sacrifice of the fighters of 1955-1959, led to the termination of the shameful and antiquated colonizing occupation of the island and the declaration of the independence of Cyprus.
We are commemorating Grigoris Ayxentiou, who with his death continued the great moments of Greek history, recently, we paid the minimum homage to the “Machairas Eagle”, that is Kyriakos Matsis who was promoted to Lt General , since with his life and sacrifice confirmed the fact that “we are not fighting for money but for virtue”.
We are commemorating the free besieged of the battle in the barn in Liopetri, who defeated the fear of death denying to surrender.
We are commemorating the nine hanged men, the last of whom being student and poet Evagoras Pallikarides, who despite being in the cold and gloomy prison cells stood tall in front of the gallows and sacrificed for freedom, as did so many others.
Their heritage is valuable. The national and human message of EOKA is freedom, justice and collectiveness, which should be the guiding light of our times.
They are showing the way we should follow. The way of duty, of mobilization and achievement of common objectives. They can be the compass for the future. We should always bear in mind that a nation without memory is a nation without future.
We, in the Ministry of National Defence, the Hellenic Armed Forces have one set objective. To promote the heroes and protagonists, to honour the heroes who are still with us and those who have passed on, honouring their deeds which project the virtues and the powers of the Nation.
Our aim is to restore the injustices of history and this concerns the struggle of the Greeks during the invasion and occupation of Cyprus. We will honour them as we should, even though so many years have passed. We owe this to them.
This is of utter importance for the Cypriots who continue to fight for the liberation of the occupied territories and the reinstatement of the substantial human rights, brutally violated by Operation Attila.
Mother Greece is always standing by Cypru , especially today when talks for the settlement of the Cyprus Question are being held.
Our joint objective remains the termination of the Turkish invasion and the reunification of the island, in the context of a mutually accepted, just, comprehensive and permanent settlement of the Cyprus Question.
However, there can be no settlement with the presence of occupation troops in Cyprus.
The so-called guarantees cannot provide a settlement.
Today we are honouring the three historical associations, acknowledging their work and historical course, and at the same time we are redefining our debt vis-à-vis youth.
We have no right to deprive future generations of the knowledge of their ancestors’ labours, the heroic fighters and the great moments of our historic past, the feeling that the past itself as well as fate itself unites us and finally of the capability to feel proud of the achievements of the people and the History of our Nation.
You are here, living heroes and examples for us, our children and the generations to come.
Thank you” .
