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CYPRUS CELEBRATES INDEPENDENCE
By Jacqueline Theodoulou
Cyprus Mail
2 oct 08
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 Turkish20Cypriot 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 i t 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 line the street
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.
By Jacqueline Theodoulou
Cyprus Mail
2 oct 08
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 Turkish20Cypriot 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 i t 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 line the street
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.