"We do not want an army, because we are not in danger from anywhere, because we are friends with all the neighboring countries, because we have developed ties that are stronger than ever before."
This was emphasized by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiadis, sending a message to Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, on the occasion of the completion, today, of 44 years since the Turkish invasion and the ongoing military occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
The Cypriot president in a speech last night, expressed the absolute will to work for a solution to the Cyprus problem, but made it clear that he refers to a solution that will not leave the nuggets of injustice left by the London-Zurich Agreement. Because, he pointed out, "the agreement, which will be based on injustice, will also be doomed to collapse".
Also, President Anastasiadis stressed: "what I want to convey as a message is that what we have claimed and are claiming, in order to achieve a viable, functional solution, and the creation of a normal state, is something that is not discussed and is not bargained."
Today, at 05.30 in the morning, at the time when the Turkish invasion of the coast of Kyrenia began, sirens sounded in all the cities of the free areas of Cyprus.
In the presence of President Anastasiadis, a memorial prayer will be sung at the Makedonitissa Tomb in favor of the fallen officers and hoplites during the Turkish invasion, followed by the laying of wreaths. The events will be attended by the Minister of Defense of Greece Panos Kammenos and the second Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament, George Varemenos.
Then, Mr. Anastasiadis will unveil the Noratlas aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force, similar to the one, codenamed "Victory-4" shot down in 1974 by mistake of the Cypriot air defense. Four pilots and 27 commandos from Greece, except one, died tragically.
