Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-07-20

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - INVASION ANNIVERSARY - MEMORIAL SERVICE

[02] SPOKESMAN - BURNS - CYPRUS

[01] CYPRUS PRESIDENT - INVASION ANNIVERSARY - MEMORIAL SERVICE

I believe that today, our mind and our heart should be with those who sacrificed their lives, defending with their sacrifice, our national and human dignity, President Papadopoulos said.

His statement came after an official memorial service at Faneromeni Church in Nicosia, for those who lost their lives during the Turkish invasion, in the summer of 1974.

Present at the memorial service were also, among others, President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias, members of the Council of Ministers, political party leaders, MPs, Greeces Ambassador to Cyprus Demetris Rallis, the National Guard and Police leaderships, war veteran associations, relatives of those who died during the invasion, as well as an all-party delegation of the Greek Parliament.

The Greek government was represented at the memorial service by Greek Minister of National Education and Religion Marietta Őiannakou.

In his statement, the President of the House of Representatives urged all Cypriots to be united with a view to avert a new fait accompli in Cyprus.

Todays message should be our common struggle to avert any new fait accompli in Cyprus, to free our country from the Turkish occupation and from the illegal settlers, so that better days come for us, he said.

On behalf of the Greek government, Minister of National Education and Religion said that the achievement of a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem is the common goal of the Greek and Cypriot governments.

Cyprus has made much progress, Cyprus is a member of the EU. What is pending now is the achievement of a just solution and the reunification of Cyprus, based on the EU principles, she added.

In his speech at the memorial service, Cypriot Minister of Defense Christodoulos Pashiardes said that although time is working against the Greek Cypriot side, we must achieve a functional and viable solution and not just any solution for the sake of closing the Cyprus problem.

He also noted that while Greek Cypriots commemorate their dead and count again with a lot of pain their missing, their enclaved people and the thousands of refugees, right beside us the Turks celebrate their crime against Cyprus.

In the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus many events are being held Friday to celebrate the Turkish invasion of 1974, in the presence of Turkish political and military officials.

Turkish troops invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, occupying 37% of the island`s territory, killing thousands of people, forcibly uprooting some 200,000 Greek Cypriots, making one third of the island`s population, from their homes and properties while hundreds of people are still missing.

The Republic of Cyprus became a full EU member state in May 2004

[02] SPOKESMAN - BURNS - CYPRUS

Burns told CNA that he looks forward to visiting Cyprus, ``hopefully in September.`` He also noted that ``we hope that the Secretary General of the UN will support a renewed effort by the UN to launch negotiations,`` clarifying that he does not mean the July 8 2006 agreement signed between Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

``Mr Burns is most welcome to visit Cyprus,`` Palmas said, adding that the schedule and the agenda of his visit will be discussed between the US and the Cypriot government.

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