We are here at the heroic 1st Raiders Battalion that continues the traditions, values and the heroic action of our raiders; of those who defend our country and religion. Greek soldiers fight in every territory where Greek people live for our faith and country. They continue the tradition and they assure the Greek people, the Greek nation, whether they are, here, in Cyprus or in the Greek motherland, that the Hellenic Armed Forces are ready to confront any threat.

We ought to recognize the contribution of people like you who survived, as well as the memory of those who fell.

Those of you who fell in the Liberation Combat of Cyprus and are watching us from heaven and those of you who are here today, you did not come here to participate in an exercise after being granted permission, as some people had been trying to describe this Liberation Combat for years.

You gave your battle for our land, our nation here, in Cyprus. You gave your battle for freedom, for the flag we swear never to strike; for our flag which officers, NCOs, soldiers, national guardsmen and civilians of this land swear to defend.

I would like to thank particularly the President of the Cyprus Republic, the Defence Minister of Cyprus, the Chief of the National Guard and every officer, NCO and soldier who prepared this memorial service that begins today with the inauguration of the museum and will culminate this evening and tomorrow with the scheduled commemoration events.

As Greece’s Minister of National Defence and on behalf of the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Greek people, I wish to assure you that Cyprus is not far away. Cyprus has never been far away. And we have committed ourselves to the memory of those who fell and of those who are here today, to reveal the truth.

Maybe the truth is hard for some people. But we cannot overshadow the history of the Greek nation in order to not reveal some cases of people who did not observe their oath.

In this context, in a close cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, over the past 3 and a half years, together with the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff and the Chiefs of Army, Air Force and Navy General Staffs, we do our best to restore this truth and apologize sincerely to those whom this nation has wronged for 44 entire years.

Let them rest in peace and be sure that their example remains alive. Bowing before our heroes, before the war flags, I wish you to know that our Holy Virgin always protects and guides our Nation.

This is why nobody can dispute our national sovereignty and territorial integrity as long as even one of us remains alive.