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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 02-08-18
CONTENTS
[01] Cyprus commemorates army officers killed in helicopter crash
[01] Cyprus commemorates army officers killed in helicopter crash
1350:CYPPRESS:01
Cyprus commemorates army officers killed in helicopter crash
Nicosia, Aug 18 (CNA) - Cyprus commemorated today the tragic loss of
its late National Guard Commander, Lieutenant Evangelos Florakis and
the other four army officers, killed July 10, 2002, when their
helicopter crashed near the south western town of Paphos. The other
army officers killed were Air Force Commander, Brigadier Stelios
Demenagas, Lieutenant Nikos Georgiou and the two helicopter pilots,
Flight Lieutenant Paris Athanasiades and Flank Officer Michalis
Shiakallis.
In his eulogy, at a memorial service held here for the five army
officers, Cyprus new National Guard Commander, Lieutenant Athanasios
Nikolodemos stressed that "our vision is to establish powerful,
effective and efficient armed forces that will consist a reliable
deterrent and will fight to win a war, should this be needed". He also
stressed the need to continue efforts "to upgrade the National Guard's
fighting capability, for the sake of Cyprus, which struggles for the
survival of Hellenism on this holy land."
He also noted that the five offices were killed while serving their
homeland and stressed that the struggle to reunite Cyprus, divided
since the Turkish invasion of 1974 has had a cost both for Cyprus and
Greece since dozens of their army officers have been killed, in time of
peace, while on duty.
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