Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-05-10

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT VE DAY CYPRUS ISSUE

[01] PRESIDENT VE DAY CYPRUS ISSUE

In a speech at the event of the Cyprus Veterans Association WWII to mark VE Day, the end of the War with Germany on Tuesday 8 May 1945, President Christofias said the essential prerequisite for a successful outcome of our struggle is to forge the strongest possible unity in the home front and assured he will continue to work towards this with faith and resolve.

President Christofias praised the volunteers who sacrificed their lives for the ideals of peace, freedom and democracy. Cyprus, he said, was present at the call to save humanity and both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots volunteers enlisted in the British Forces while others fought in Greece and Europe.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, President Christofias said our quest is for a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution, with political equality as defined by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which will secure a state with a single sovereignty, identity and international personality, will restore the human rights of all the people of Cyprus and will be based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and values that make up the EU.

He underlined that an essential prerequisite for the successful outcome of our struggle is to forge the greatest possible unity on the home front.

He assured the Veterans of the WWII that the government will continue to stand by them and has already increased the monthly benefit it provides them while safeguarding the right to transfer the benefit to the spouse when the veteran passes away.

According to the association, no less than 20 thousand Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots volunteered and enlisted in the British Forces during the Second World War in order to prevent the abominable dictatorial Nazi and Fascist regimes from dominating Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Out of the total Cypriot volunteers, some 600 men were killed in action and are buried in 56 cemeteries of 16 countries. A further 2500 were prisoners of war.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article