Athens, Greece. Motorcyclists are set to tour Greece to mark the 30th anniversary of the deaths of Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou, who were killed during separate demonstrations in the buffer zone near Dherynia in August 1996. The commemorative tour will include symbolic stops and events linked to the memory of the two men.
Tour itinerary
Isaac-Solomou memorial initiative spokesman Alekos Michaelides told the Cyprus News Agency on Tuesday that the annual motorcyclist procession in memory of Isaac and Solomou will take place with symbolic stops in Greece.
He said that 40 motorcyclists will take part in this year’s tour for safety reasons. According to Michaelides, the group will depart by boat from Limassol for Piraeus on July 7 and then travel towards the Peloponnese.
Symbolic stops
Michaelides said the procession will stop in the village of Karavas on the island of Kythera, in the village of Keryneia in the Achaea regional unit, and on the island of Salamis near Piraeus.
He said these locations were chosen because their names recall occupied areas in Cyprus, namely the Kyrenia district village of Karavas, the city of Kyrenia, and ancient Salamis.
Rhodes, Kastellorizo and Athens
After leaving Piraeus, the motorcyclists will travel to Rhodes and Kastellorizo. The tour will end in Athens before the group returns to Cyprus on July 17.
Michaelides said the event will last 10 days and include activities as well as naming ceremonies for streets named after Isaac and Solomou in some parts of Greece.
Reason for island visits
Explaining the inclusion of Kastellorizo, Michaelides said the island symbolises those manning the frontiers and described it as being in a very difficult area, like Cyprus. He said the aim was to connect the two islands.
He added that Rhodes has a centuries-old connection with Cyprus and said the two islands were selected so participants could engage with residents, hold events, and refer again to the memory of Isaac and Solomou and the need for justice for those responsible for their killings.
Possible meeting in Athens
Michaelides said that during the group’s time in Athens, an effort would be made to arrange a meeting with Greek President Constantine Tassoulas to remind him that arrest warrants relating to the deaths of Isaac and Solomou remain unexecuted.