The commemorative event entitled "Cyprus on the Road to Freedom" took place in Brussels and at the European Parliament on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the start of the EOKA liberation struggle (1955-1959).
The event was attended and delivered by the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Christos Zannetou, who also participated as Vice President of the “Modestos Pantelis” Cultural Foundation. The event was organized at the initiative of MEP Michalis Hadjipantelas, while representatives of the Local Government and other official guests were present.
The central point of the event was the first screening of the historical dramatized documentary "Cyprus Calls... Five Souls for Freedom", which is dedicated to five EOKA heroes: Modestos Pantelis, Andreas Karyos, Christos Samaras, Fotis Pittas and Elias Papakyriakou and highlights, through testimonies and documents, important aspects of the struggle.
In his speech, the Mayor of Ayia Napa stressed that the event constitutes a substantial act of historical memory, national responsibility and collective self-awareness, underlining the importance of preserving the historical consciousness of Cypriot Hellenism. He made particular reference to the heroic sacrifice of the EOKA fighters, as well as the battle of the Liopetri Barn, which constitutes one of the most glorious pages of modern Cypriot history.
Mr. Zannetou paid special tribute to the first martyr of EOKA, Modestos Pantelis, noting that his sacrifice is a timeless symbol of faith, bravery and dedication to the struggle for freedom. At the same time, he underlined that his self-sacrifice on April 1, 1955 marked the beginning of a struggle that inspired generations of Cypriots.
From the podium of the European Parliament, the Mayor of Ayia Napa sent the message that Cyprus does not forget, pointing out that the Cyprus problem remains an open European issue that concerns invasion, occupation, refugees and the violation of human rights, and requires consistency of principles and more active support from Europe.
He also emphasized that the Municipality of Ayia Napa will continue to honor the memory of the heroes and pass it on to future generations, with dedication to the values of freedom, democracy and human dignity.
Finally, he expressed his warm thanks to MEP Michalis Hadjipantelas for the initiative of the event, as well as to the "Modestos Pantelis" Cultural Foundation, its President Andris Modestos and all its members, for their great contribution to the preservation of historical memory.
