July 11, 2011 is the signpost to do all that is required so that we do not experience such a tragedy again, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, on Thursday in his speech at the memorial service at the "Evangelos Florakis" Naval Base, for the fallen in Marie.
The sacrifice of the 13 fallen hero-martyrs is a constant reminder of the debt that everyone has, especially those who volunteered to serve this people, "to be careful, to be responsible but, above all, to be accountable every day", he added.
For the 13th year, said the President of the Republic, "the morning of July 11 is mute and mournful." "We are all here to pay due respect to the 13 fallen martyrs who died that fateful morning," he said, and to "pay due respect to our heroes and at the same time, for me, as President of of the Republic of Cyprus, to look you in the eyes and express the sincere apologies of the State for mistakes and omissions that led to the tragic tragedy".
"I am here with you, among you, and beside you, on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the Cypriot people, to convey the sincere promise that the sacrifice of your own people has become the unchanging point of reference for the responsibility to be shown by those who receive decisions that affect human lives," he added.
The tragedy of July 11, 2011, he noted, was due to a sequence of mistakes, actions and events that have one thing in common, "the lack of concern and care that many of those at the highest levels of the administrative, military and political hierarchy should have shown". . As a result of all this, the State, the State was irreparably exposed in the eyes of its citizens, added President Christodoulidis.
Stating that accidents will always happen, he said that the point is to act proactively and take measures to limit their effects as much as possible. "This should also be the guide of our actions", he said, adding that the establishment of the correct procedures, training and continuous controls are the only way that will minimize the chances of accidents and ensure, to the extent possible , the safety of human life and the vital infrastructure of the state. "At the same time, as a state we have an obligation to instill in the citizens, with actions and not words, the feeling of security, reliability, trust", he said.
Addressing the victims' relatives, he said he knows that any words, from anyone, "are not enough to ease your pain." "However, allow me to sincerely convey to you the assurance that as a State we are doing everything possible so that the sacrifice of your loved ones acts as a beacon for our decisions." "July 11, 2011 is the signpost for us to do all that is necessary so that we do not experience such a tragedy again," he added.
He mentioned that the sacrifice of Andreas Ioannidis, Lambros Lambros, Cleanthis Cleanthos, Michalis Herakleous, Miltiadis Christophoros, Christakis Christophoros, Antonis Charalambous, Andreas Papadopoulos, George Giakoumis, Vassilis Krokos, Spyros Tantis, Panagiotis Theofilos, of Adamos Adamos, does not concern only their families.
"It concerns all of us. Their sacrifice, moreover, is a constant reminder of the debt that we all have, especially those of us who have been appointed to serve this people, to be careful, to be responsible but, above all, to be accountable every day", he noted.
Fifty years after the 1974 tragedy, he added, "our country cannot afford peacetime casualties." The price is very heavy at all levels, he said, adding that, therefore, the sense of responsibility is not something secondary. "It is a necessary condition for those who hold public office and exercise power. However, apart from responsibility, every position presupposes a value system that promotes empathy", he said.
In his statements, after the ceremony, President Christodoulidis said that "I am here, first and foremost on behalf of the State as the President of the Republic of Cyprus to apologize for the tragic mistakes made by the State, for all that should have been happen and didn't happen and led to this tragedy.
"At the very least, their sacrifice should be a signpost for all of us in positions of responsibility not to be led into such human tragedies again," he said.
During the event, a memorial service was held by the head of the Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios. Among others present were the President of the Parliament, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Justice, the Deputy Ministers of Shipping and Immigration, representatives of the Police, the National Guard and the Fire Brigade, the Presidents of DIKO and ELAM, MPs, the Ambassador of Greece in Cyprus, the wife of the former President of the Republic, Andri Anastasiadis and relatives of the victims.
Wreaths were also laid, in front of the monument that has been erected next to the chapel, by the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Parliament, Archbishop George, Mrs. Anastasiadis, the Ambassador of Greece, party representatives and relatives of the victims, among others.
