“We need responsible, realistic and effective patriotism,” Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday, addressing the memorial of former President of Cyprus, Glafkos Clerides, in Nicosia. Mitsotakis commemorated Clerides’ role for the Cyprus issue and noted his legacy in current times.
He also spoke about the relations between Cyprus and Greece and the bonds between the party Glakos Clerides founded, the Democratic Rally (DISY) and the party who Mitsotakis himself is leading today, New Democracy.
Mitsotakis was accompanied by his wife Mareva Mitsotaki and Member of the Hellenic Parliament, Christos Stylianides at the ceremony. Annita Demetriou, President of DISY and House of Representatives President, former President of the Republic and former DISY President, Nicos Anastasiades, former President of DISY and MP Averof Neoytou also attended the ceremony. Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, represented the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides.
The Greek Prime Minister noted that Clerides’ legacy “teaches us that stagnation equals retreat” and that “the rhetoric of false patriotism of today can often be hidden behind future failures.”
“We do not need it. Neither in Nicosia nor in Athens,” he added.
“We need a responsible, realistic and effective patriotism,” he pointed out.
He also noted that “Athens and Nicosia follow and absolutely identical path, with consistency and with determination,” and added that this had an effect for the resumption of the meetings regarding the Cyprus issue.”
He referred to the contribution of the Greek government “always aligned with the government of Cyprus, insisting on the current framework of UN resolutions, for a bizonal, bicommunal federation, with political equality, in a sovereign state, with a single nationality, a single political personality,” and by all means against a two-state solution.
Mitsotakis spoke of the strategic alignment of Cyprus and Greece, noting that in foreign policy in particular, “positive outcome is produced by active diplomacy, not stagnation, which leads to consolidation of faulty situations and to marginalizsation.”
He also said that “the two centers of hellenism are the strongest beacons of stability in the Eastern Mediterrannean.” He spoke of the accomplishments of Cyprus and Greece, as two EU member states, in economy, security and energy and particularly noted the importance of the electric interconnection between them.
Mitsotakis reminded that Clerides was one of the first supporters of the idea of an independent state in Cyprus and hailed his role after the Turkish invasion in 1974. He also underlined his contribution towards the country’s accession to the EU. He concluded that to commemorate a leader as the indicator in challenges that followed his time, is a true honour to the deceased.
Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios, who officiated the memorial service, welcomed Mitsotakis and said the Greeks of Cyprus expect “your full support in the fulfillment of our joint struggle.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format is expected later this year.