The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by HNDGS Chief Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, attended a commemorative event held to celebrate the 1955-1959 EOKA (Cypriot Fighters’ National Organisation) liberation struggle, held at the Larnaka municipality amphitheatre.
The Ministry of National Defence in his address stated the following:
“It is a great honour to attend this commemorative event which respectfully honours our heroes, overwhelmed with emotion.
I have been visiting Cyprus on this day for 17 consecutive years, in the context of my different capacities, because I believe that it is the obligation of the entire Hellenism to honour these heroes, who are the example of the struggle and the sacrifice in the name of our faith and homeland, and in the name of freedom.
Today we are honouring Dimitrakis Dimitriadis, Michalakis Paridis, Petrakis Kyprianou, Andreas Sourouklis, Toumazos Toumazou and Frantzeskos Artemou, who being the worthy successors of the Region of Larnaka, they gave their lives for the ideals of Freedom of the Cypriot Hellenism, participating in the EOKA Struggle, 1955-1959.
A saga written with indelible ink on the heroic pages of the Nation and Hellenism, the result not only of the gallantry and the pride of the EOKA fighters, as well as the high morale and the untamed soul of the Cypriot Hellenism.
Our heroes did not cower in the face of death, which was transubstantiated into a glow of immortality and heroism. These moments arouse mixed feelings, on one hand pride for the history and the values of our Nation and on the other hand grief, for the youth who sacrificed for their “altars and their homes” and did not have the chance to enjoy life, to map out their course in this world. They did, however, get the chance to pave the way for us.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the occasion of today’s ceremony, we are here to unite our voice with your voice. As I have stated in the past, we are one Nation, but our History and conscience are common. The reunification of Cyprus is for Hellenism an one way road.
The solid objective of our governments is to end the Turkish occupation, in the context of a mutually acceptable, just, comprehensive and permanent solution, according to the decisions of the UN Security Council and under the capacity of Cyprus as a full and equal member state of the EU.
Even the last soldier of the occupation troops should leave Cyprus. Otherwise there will be no settlement of the Cyprus issue.
So, apart from the much owed honour to our heroes, we need to continue the fight which has not been completed. We need to activate our collective memory and joint efforts as a deed of honour for the benefit of Cypriot Hellenism, and the Greek Nation.
Here, in the heroic and tormented Cyprus, measuring the size of the offer and sacrifice of these heroes, as well as of those who have shed their blood on this tormented island, we are called once again to contemplate our own historic debt vis-à-vis our Homeland.
Concluding, I would like to especially thank the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, the Mayor of Larnaka, and the EOKA Organisations, for their honouring invitation, and allow me to express my deep appreciation for keeping the historic memory of the Nation.
I would like to express my gratitude to all the relatives of our unforgettable heroes and the pride we all feel for their sacrifice.
And as the great lawgiver Lykurgus quoted : “A city can not be considered unfortified, having walls made of men, instead of brick”. May your memory live on forever, glory to the ones who fell for their Nation.
You are immortal”.
