, Minister says

Cyprus shall strengthen its defences to protect its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as long as the Turkish occupation of the island’s northern part continues and Anakra’s expansionism threatens the survival of the people, Defence Minister Demetris Eliades said today.

Speaking during a ceremony to unveil a memorial monument, at the “Andreas Papandreou” air base, in Paphos, Eliades noted that “this is our duty to all those who lost their lives defending the country”.

The Minister added that the Republic’s obligations are yet to be fulfilled, as long as the Cyprus issue remains unresolved. As he put it “we are not entitled to forget, not even for a moment, that the occupation of the northern part of our island by Turkish troops continues, Anatolian settlers multiply, the misappropriation of our properties goes on, along with the destruction of our cultural and religious heritage”.

Eliades noted that Turkish intransigence leaves no room for optimism concerning a Cyprus solution, adding that the Greek Cypriot side continues to strive for a solution.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. The two sides have been engaged in peace talks to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, under a federal roof.

No new meetings have taken place following a second meeting at Greentree, New York, between the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in January 2012.