Cyprus celebrates independence

THE REPUBLIC was and remains a common acquisition of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, President Demetris Christofias told the nation yesterday.

In a statement to mark Cyprus’ Independence Day following the annual military parade, Christofias referred to efforts being made to solve the Cyprus problem, but stressed that the National Guard would continue to exist for as long as Cyprus was under occupation.

The President took the salute from members of the National Guard, police and fire services, standing on the podium with Defence Minister Costas Papacostas, the National Guard Chief Lieutenant General Constantinos Bisbikas and the Greek Minister of National Defence, Evangelos Meimarakis.

The parade was also attended by House President Marios Garoyian and Archbishop Chrysostomos II. In his statement, the President said he was awaiting a response from Turkey on whether to cancel the two sides’ annual military exercises, while he also referred to the positive international climate that has been created surrounding Cyprus.

“The Republic of Cyprus was and remains a common acquisition of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” said Christofias. “We aim with peaceful means to reunite our country, to relieve it from occupation and settlement, and to live free under the shelter of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, without foreign armies, without foreign military and other presences,” he said. The President said he would fight towards a Cyprus, which “will be a democratic country with respect towards the human rights of each citizen, independent of the language one speaks and the God in whom one believes”.

Christofias said the battle was being fought out in the international arena on a daily basis, “and I believe we are succeeding in putting Cyprus finally in the forefront. And it will come to the front, if it isn’t already there”. He added that the government’s aim was not to corner Turkey. “Our aim is to oblige the occupying forces into becoming reasonable and understanding that it is also to their own benefit to withdraw the military forces and to find a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, if they want to move towards the European Union.”

Christofias thanked the ministers and everyone who participated in the parade, “in honour of our country’s independence”.“I wish and hope that we will soon no longer need an army,” he added. “But as long as we need it, we will maintain it and train it so it can improve. All the best to everyone, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins.”

In a brief statement after the parade, Archbishop Chrysostomos said that it was imperative for everyone to protect Cyprus’ state entity. He stressed that this needed to be done by everybody, from the President of the Republic to the last member of the public.

THOUSANDS of Cypriots lined the streets in the capital’s Apostolos Varnavas Lyceum area yesterday to see the military parade in celebration of the 48th anniversary of Cyprus’ independence. War wounded from 1974 were given an honorary position near the officials’ stand. The parade included the participation of members of the National Guard and Greek contingent ELDYK, the police, Fire Services, Forestry Department, Civil Aviation and military reserves. There were also mechanised and infantry units, as well as an air force and helicopter display, which was met with enthusiastic applause and cheers. The parade kicked off with the police philharmonic band.

Unification is a key goal for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and whilst this has a way to run yet, it is in the interest of all parties to find a peaceful resolution to this complex situation. Unification will bring significant investment into the island, with major improvements to the infarstructure and regeneration of some of the most wondeful loactions in this beautiful island. This will have a significant impact on the property market and further increase the overseas and local demand for lxuury villas and other properties in Cyprus.