The annual memorial service of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, who died on August 3, 1977, was held today in Panagia Kykkos, patron of the Archbishop of Cyprus George and in the presence of the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides. The service was attended by leaders and representatives of parliamentary parties , of the security forces, the army and the police and other officials.
In his memorial speech, the Minister of Labor and Social Insurance, Yiannis Panagiotou mentioned that the Makarios' great course was parallel to the historical course of Cyprus and how Archbishop Makarios identified with Cyprus and the people identified with Makarios.
“From the union referendum, to the liberation struggle of EOKA and to the freedom of Cyprus. In the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, in the first steps of independence. In undermining, in provocations, in turcantarsia. In the confirmation of legitimacy and the continuation of the state. In the terrorism of the National Front and EOKA B'. In conspiracy and betrayal. In the coup and the invasion. To the return, to the olive industry, to the historic compromise of the federation. And then high up on the Throne of the Virgin”, he said.
Mr. Panagiotou added that Makarios was a leading personality of global scope and universal influence, he proudly carried the tradition and culture of the long history of Hellenism and Christianity , he fully understood the facts and limitations of the international level of politics and diplomacy.
“He was able to perceive the distinction between the possible and the possible, document it, and apply it, to the best of his ability, without any unnecessary digressions. He dared to lead the struggle for self-determination. He dared to accept independence. He dared to separate the desirable from the possible. He dared to agree the federation”, he noted.
The Minister of Labor stated that a constant parameter of the Cyprus problem is the Turkish expansionist policy which unfortunately is methodically applied and confirmed over time, but it must be removed in order to create the perspective for the solution of the Cyprus problem. “Each subsequent President of the Republic of Cyprus, each leader of Cypriot Hellenism, takes up the baton of the existential struggle for national survival and the anti-occupation struggle for liberation”.
He noted that President Christodoulidis has received a popular mandate to end the stalemate and stagnation of the previous years, to restart negotiations, and to resolve the Cyprus problem.
The President, he said, “has worked tirelessly and methodically in this direction and the international community recognizes the consistency and sincerity of the desire for the reunification of our homeland. May the positive response to the invitation of the Secretary General of the United Nations for a tripartite meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader be the beginning of positive developments”.
Mr. Panagiotou spoke about the need to have a strong and unbroken internal front, which would ensure the unity of the people and that the people and the leadership must stand with the President of the Republic and fight together to achieve the result we seek and desire . “To end the current status quo and replace it with a better future of security and prosperity, in the liberated and reunited Republic of Cyprus”.
“Our struggle is not directed against Turkish Cypriots. They are also victims of the Turkish invasion and are not our opponents. Our opponent is Turkey. This is the invader we want to expel, to redeem Greeks and Turks of Cyprus”
He ended by talking about one people, one state, one homeland, the Cypriot people and the Republic of Cyprus.
The commemoration was followed by a trisage which was performed by the Archbishop of Cyprus George at the place where the statue of Patriarch Makarios is located, at the foot of the hill in Throni, where the tomb of Makarios is located and the laying of wreaths on the statue of Makarios.
Source: KYPE
