Nicosia, Cyprus. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said current circumstances leave no room for complacency, calling for unity and a clear national direction. He spoke during a memorial service at the Church of Saint George in Nicosia.
Call for unity and national direction
Letymbiotis said “the relentless gravity of the situation requires us to stand united, with seriousness, national awareness and clear orientation,” urging society to avoid forgetfulness and complacency.
Division of the island and call for a solution
Referring to the ongoing division, he said that 52 years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, occupation persists. He called for a solution that is “final, functional and viable”, based on United Nations resolutions, international law and the European acquis.
Refugees, missing persons and the Cyprus issue
He said refugees continue to bear the burden of absence and that families of the missing still seek full justice, describing the Cyprus issue as “a living national wound”.
Warning against internal division
Letymbiotis highlighted the importance of unity, warning that internal division has historically weakened Hellenism more than external threats. He said differences should be set aside in favour of collective aims.
Memorial for Nitsa Hadjigeorgiou and broader sacrifices
Letymbiotis spoke at the memorial service honouring Eoka fighter Nitsa Hadjigeorgiou and members of the association. He praised Hadjigeorgiou’s courage and sacrifice during the Eoka struggle, saying she endured torture without betraying others and later faced hardship and neglect.
He said the memorial honoured not only six individuals but also symbolised wider sacrifices in Cyprus’ history, including those executed during the anti-colonial struggle, victims of intercommunal violence in the 1960s, and those who fell during the events of 1974.
Honouring heroes through action
Letymbiotis said the greatest honour to those commemorated was not words but ensuring they are not betrayed again, adding that the key question is whether society proves worthy of their sacrifice.
How should Cyprus balance internal unity with efforts to reach a final, functional and viable solution to the island’s division?