Deputy Defence Minister Nikolaos Chardalias delivers a speech at the event in memory of killed and missing officers and soldiers during the 1974 Turkish invasion, at the[...]

Home >4rth Position> Deputy Defence Minister Nikolaos Chardalias delivers a speech at the event in memory of killed and missing officers and soldiers during the 1974 Turkish invasion, at the Panorama of Missing Persons, Cyprus

Deputy Defence Minister Nikolaos Chardalias delivers a speech at the event in memory of killed and missing officers and soldiers during the 1974 Turkish invasion, at the Panorama of Missing Persons, Cyprus

July 20, 2023

On Wednesday 19 July 2023, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardaliasrepresented the Greek Government at the event in memory and honour of missing persons during the 1974 Turkish invasion, co-organized by the Pancyprian Organization of the Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons and the Panhellenic Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons of the Cyprus Tragedy, held at the Panorama of Missing Persons in Pyrga village, Cyprus in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikolaos Christodoulidis.

During the event, a memorial service was held for the Missing persons and a Trisagion service for the Fallen, officiated by His Beatitude Archbishop George IIIof New Justiniana and All Cyprus.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikolaos Christodoulidis was the keynote speaker, while speeches were also delivered in turn by His Beatitude Archbishop George IIIof New Justiniana and All Cyprus, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Democratic Rally Ms. Annita Demetriou, the Deputy Ministry of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardaliasand the Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Lasithi, Mr. Ioannis Plakiotakis.

The event was honoured with the presence of relatives of Missing persons from Greece and Cyprus, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare of Cyprus Ms. Marilena Evangelou, the Chief HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros, the General Director of the Ministry of Defence of Cyprus Mr. Andreas Loukas, the Deputy Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Loukas Chatzimichail, the Commander of ELDYK Colonel Panagiotis Keramidas, the President of the Pancyprian Organization of the Relatives of Undeclared Prisoners and Missing Persons Mr. Nikolaos Sergidis, the President of the Panhellenic Committee of Relatives of Missing Persons of the Cyprus Tragedy Ms. MariaKalmbourtzi, and others.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias in his speech at the event in honour of missing persons stated the following:

"I am here today with feelings of sincere emotion and pride, in order to pay tribute with deep respect to the Heroes Greek Cypriot and Greek fighters, who gave their life to defend Cyprus during the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Words are incapable of describing the feelings of grief and insufficient to praise events and actions that took place that black summer. The only way to perceive the extent of the horror and disaster caused by the shameful invasion would be to hear one by one all those who experienced tragic moments, days and nights full of anguish and hard ordeals, unbearable hardships and immense suffering. All those who were dealing with death every day without fear; those who were provoking and contemning death, finally giving their life for their ideals effortlessly.

It was dawn of Saturday, July 20^th1974, when the Turkish invasion of Cyprus began. Turkish troops disembarked from warships at Pentemili beach, west of Kyrenia, while destroyers were firing on military targets. The combined firepower of warships and endless aerial bombardments turned the narrow plain between Panagra and Kyrenia into a hell of fire.

That is how the operation began, named by the Turks with the code name "ATTILA" after the Ruler of the Huns who was known for his brutal and conquering action and went down in history as the "Scourge of God".

For that is the only way that the fierce partition of the island, the violent expatriation of thousands of people, the usurpation of their properties, the flagrant violation of human rights, the ongoing tragedy suffered by the families of missing persons and the illegal settlement of Turks can be characterized.

Since that doomed day, forty-nine years have gone and the wound caused by Attila's unprovoked invasion still bleeds.

As a nation, we have the duty not to ever come to terms with the consequences of that Turkish barbarism and the illegal, continued occupation of the territory of a sovereign and independent EU member-state.

This inconceivable tragedy obliges us to have a vivid memory of the sacrifice of those who fell for God and Country at that time.

We cannot forget the missing fighters, who defended the ultimate goods of freedom and independence of the Cypriot Hellenism valiantly and vigorously; fact that constitutes a major national and moral pending matter that needs to be recovered the soonest possible.

Our common goal and top national priority remains at all times a fair, agreed, mutually accepted and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council's resolutions; a solution that will resolve the Cypriot problem definitively and will re-establish world order and legality.

Greece and Cyprus, strongly committed to the national principles of good neighbourly relations, the abidance by international treaties, the International Law and the Law of the Sea, will keep up their tireless and joint efforts towards the withdrawal of occupation troops and the abolition of the anachronistic guarantee scheme, looking forward to a future of prosperity and progress for the island.

Honorable President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the summer of 1974, the Cypriot National Guard and ELDYK soaked the long-suffering Cypriot earth with their men's blood and sweat, doing the most towards the freedom of Cypriot Hellenism.

We owe a debt of gratitude to all those fearless fighters, who offered the Nation the most recent glorious path of its long historical journey. With their insurmountable mental strength and their tireless courage, they established themselves, without a doubt, as model heroes for present and future generations of Hellenes.

At the same time, there is something worth thinking about. What were the ideals of these heroes? What are the reasons for their bravery, fearlessness and remarkable self-composure in front of the barbarian enemy? The answer is this. They were the same ideals that inspired Leonidas' 300 men, the fighters of the Greek War of Independence, but also the Greco-Italian War. The same ideals for which we shall stand up against whoever attempts to attack on the sovereignty and our sovereign rights.

The fighters of 1974 stood on their feet through difficult times; they had not been afraid of death, they did not consider their young age, their parents or brothers and sisters. They only had the Country in mind and fell heroically for the freedom and independence of Cyprus.

Beloved, memorable heroes, we shall never forget your contribution. You should know that we shall always think of you and feel proud of you, your sacrifice and your heroism. An unprecedented heroism!

With that in mind, please allow me to conclude using the words of the late Commander of ELDYK Panagiotis Stavropoulos, who was Lieutenant Colonel during the 1974 events:

"My sweet and extraordinary country, you will always be at the top, so that you could give life blood and light to the entire planet and that is because, beautiful Greece you do not die. You have never died. You LIVE FOREVER as you said and MOLON LABE ("Come and Take Us")".

In addition, Mr. Chardalias took part in a working dinner organized by the General Director of the Ministry of Defence of Cyprus, Mr. Andreas Loukas, in the presence of the Ambassador of Greece in Cyprus Mr. Ioannis Papameletiou, the Chief HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros, the Deputy Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Loukas Chatzimichail and the Commander of ELDYK, Colonel Panagiotis Keramidas.Our common goal and top national priority remains at all times a fair, agreed, mutually accepted and sustainable solutionusinessWe c