The Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, on the two-day Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 July 2022, he attended, representing the Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulosat the anniversary events for the Fallen and Missing Officers and Soldiers during the Turkish invasion of 1974, in Cyprus.

On Tuesday, July 19, at the Panorama of Missing Persons, in the village of Pyrga, the Deputy Minister of National Defense attended a commemoration and tribute event, co-organized by the Pan-Cypriot Organization of Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons and the Panhellenic Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons during the Cyprus tragedy, where a prayer was held for the finding of the Missing and Trisagio for the Fallen, patron of Theophilestatus Bishop of Karpasia etc. Christopherrepresentative of the Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and all of Cyprus, etc. Chrysostomou II. The President of the Republic of Cyprus was represented by the Minister of Labor & Social Insurance Mr. Kyriakos Kousios.

On Wednesday, July 20, Mr. Hardalias attended the Memorial Service held in favor of the Fallen Officers and Soldiers during the Turkish invasion of 1974, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Kykkos & Tellyrias etc. Nikiforos (representative of the Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and all of Cyprus) and laid a wreath at the Tomb of Makedonitissa, in Nicosia. Afterwards, he went to the Holy Church of Barnabas the Apostle in the Archdiocese of Cyprus, where he attended the Memorial for the Fallen, officiated by His Eminence the Metropolitan of Paphos. George, representative of the Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and all of Cyprus at the event. The President of the Republic of Cyprus was represented by the Minister of Finance Mr. Konstantinos Petridis.

The events, yesterday and today, were attended by the President of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Annita Dimitriouthe MPs of Pella, etc. Dionysios Stamenitis and II Piraeus k. Irini Kasimati as representatives of the Parliament of the Greeks, representatives of parliamentary parties of the Republic of Cyprus, the Chiefs of the General Konstantinos Floros and GEEF Lieutenant General Democritos Zervakisthe Commissioner of the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus responsible for Humanitarian Issues and Expatriate Issues, Mr. Light of Firethe Ambassador of Greece in Cyprus Mr. Ioannis Papamelitouthe Director General of the Ministry of Defense of Cyprus Mr. Andreas Loukathe Commanding Colonel Panagiotis Keramidas and a delegation of executives of the Greek Cypriot Force, a delegation of executives of the Cypriot Armed Forces, the President of the Pan-Cypriot Organization of Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons, etc. Nikolaos Sergidisthe President of the Panhellenic Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons during the Cyprus tragedy, Mr. Maria Kalbourtzi and relatives of missing persons from Greece and Cyprus.

Additionally, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, in the context of his visit to Nicosia, met today with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Konstantinos Petridis and the Ambassador of Greece in Cyprus K. Ioannis Papamelitouwith whom he discussed issues of mutual interest, focusing on geopolitical developments and their implications for security and stability in Europe, the Balkans and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.

He also held a meeting with His Beatitude the Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and all of Cyprus, Mr. Chrysostomos II, in the Archdiocese. Present at the meeting were the MPs Mr. Dionysios Stamenitis and Mr. Irini Kasimati, the Chiefs of the General Directorate of Defense Forces General Konstantinos Floros and Deputy General of the General Directorate of Defense Forces Dimokritos Zervakis and the Mayor of Nicosia Mr. Konstantinos Yorkatzis.

The following is the greeting addressed by the Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias at the commemoration event held yesterday in Pyrga:

“With feelings of emotion and pride, I attend today’s event of honor and memory, for the Greek Cypriot and Greek fighters, who are ignored by that black summer of 1974 and the shameful Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

The traces of the heroic defenders of the martyred Megalonis, were lost during their struggle to defend “the holy and holy” of Cypriot Hellenism, while they participated in harsh and unequal battles with the forces of Attila, but proving in practice with their attitude , what it means to serve the Motherland, with passion and self-sacrifice.

Having the Athenian Youth’s oath “I do not disgrace the sacred weapons” as the front of their actions, they followed the voice of their historical conscience and sealed with their fighting offer, the way of “thinking and feeling”, as genuine Greeks, putting forward the dominant characteristics of our race, philanthropy, valor and self-sacrifice.

Their “over altars and hearths” fight undoubtedly ranks them in the ranks of bravery and gives them a special place in the Pantheon of Heroes of Greek history, constituting for all of us, a timeless bright beacon and springboard of national dignity and pride.

From their insurmountable mental endurance and indomitable fortitude, we can learn lessons of courage and virtue, fully realizing that, guided by unshakable faith, indomitable spirit and high spirit, we will be able to manage the great challenges of our time, against any revisionism or irrational ideology.

But, despite the struggle of hundreds of heroic fighters, who fought bravely against Attila, they remain missing, buried perhaps casually, somewhere in the holy lands of Cyprus, a fact in itself that constitutes a great national and also moral pending, both for Greece and Cyprus. A backlog that we must restore as soon as possible.

After all, for all of Hellenism, the restoration of the issue of the missing persons of the Turkish invasion, is not just a formal procedure, but constitutes a religious obligation, a national imperative, and a sacred duty, originating from the depths of our centuries-old historical heritage and ideals of our western culture.

The need to find, identify and then bury our dead warriors with all due honors, becomes imperative and imperative, so that their souls may rest in peace and so that their families can feel the longed-for “redemption”.

But until it is closed, this great national pending, our debt will remain unfulfilled and lasting, towards those who fulfilled their national duty in full and honored the flag until “the last drop of their blood”.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Forty-eight years have passed since Attila’s unprovoked invasion, the greatest modern tragedy of Hellenism after the Asia Minor disaster, and yet, the wound of the Megalonisos continues to bleed.

The violent partition, the uprooting of thousands from their original homes, the trapped, the ongoing drama of the families of the missing, the massive violation of human rights, the desecration of cultural heritage, colonization and usurpation of property, remain ever vivid in memory all of us.

As a Nation, we have an obligation to never settle for the consequences of the Turkish invasion and continued illegal occupation. Let us not forget the suffering for the innocent victims, the missing Greek Cypriots and Greek fighters, who defended with bravery and fortitude the supreme goods of freedom and independence of Cypriot Hellenism from the Turkish invader.

The unimaginable tragedy forces us to constantly overemphasize the indelible responsibility of Turkey, which continues to defiantly violate the international legal order even today.

Our common goal and top national priority always remains a fair, agreed, mutually acceptable and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the relevant decisions of the United Nations Security Council and the European acquis, a solution that will restore international legitimacy, the which is flagrantly violated by the continued illegal occupation of the territory of a sovereign and independent member state of the European Union.

A “solution” that includes the creation of two states in Cyprus is rejected without discussion, while the complete withdrawal of the occupying troops and the abolition of the anachronistic guarantee system is always an integral part of the definitive resolution of the Cyprus issue.

Greece and Cyprus, in contrast to revisionist narratives and provocative actions, which may endanger peace and stability in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, always emphasize their unwavering adherence to the customary principles of good neighborly relations, respect for international treaties, International Law and the Law of the Sea, looking forward to a future of prosperity and progress.

With these thoughts in mind, I welcome today’s event assuring you that the Greek State, in close cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, will continue their tireless joint efforts in order to find all the missing and the sacred bones of all its fallen fighters. of that period, which after being collected and identified, will be buried with all the prescribed honors, as required by our religious, customary and national traditions.

Thank you».

Today, after the events, the Deputy Minister of National Defense made the following statement:

“Two words from the heart. 48 years later and their heroic sacrifice is our ultimate legacy. It is our daily bet of devotion, of duty. For the blue of the sea, of our sky, of our Flag, of our Country. To be Immortals».