The Government is committed to continuing the efforts as regards the Cyprus issue, Cypriot Ministers stressed in their speeches on Sunday at the memorial services for the fallen heroes and prayers for the missing persons, 52 years after the Turkish invasion against Cyprus in 1974.
Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou spoke at the memorial service of the fallen soldiers of the 398th Infantry Regiment during the Turkish invasion, in Potamia.
He said that the EU’s “heightened interest, combined with the clear political will of the UN Secretary-General to resume the negotiation process on the Cyprus issue, allow us to face developments with cautious optimism”.
‘Fifty-two years after the tragedy of 1974, we remain firmly committed to the goal of ending the occupation and achieving a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue, on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, the agreed framework, the European acquis and the principles and values of the European Union,’ he added.
He noted that the Government is working consistently and decisively to create the necessary conditions that will allow a return to the dialogue table.
‘In this effort, we have the full support of our partners in the European Union. The recent appointment of the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Raffaele Fitto as the European Union Special Envoy for the Cyprus problem is a particularly important development, which reflects the European Union’s heightened interest in resolving the Cyprus problem, as well as the efforts made by the Republic of Cyprus for the Union’s substantive involvement in the process,’ he added.
Concluding, he noted that the government is continuing the efforts to determine the fate of all missing persons.
Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos spoke at the annual national memorial service for the heroes of Akaki who fell during the Turkish invasion of 1974.
He noted that the Government remains firmly committed to the effort to resume substantive negotiations, with the aim of achieving a viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem, in accordance with international law, United Nations resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union.
He noted that there is an important effort underway to resume talks, “which has emerged as a result of both the persistent actions of our own side and our clear political will, a stance recognized by the international community”.
“Our side actively supports the initiative of the UN Secretary General and, despite the difficulties, problems and challenges, we continue to invest in the political will of Mr. Guterres, in the increased interest of the European Union and in the clear connection of EU-Turkey issues with the Cyprus issue, with the aim of achieving tangible and substantive results” he pointed out.
Minister of Education, Sport and Youth Dr Athena Michaelidou, delivered a eulogy at the memorial service for the fallen during the Turkish invasion of 1974 in Pafos.
She noted that the government’s goal is to create a favourable climate and the necessary prospects for the negotiations to continue from the point at which they were interrupted, on the basis of the agreed framework.
The Minister stressed that there must be full restoration of human rights and justice, in line with the United Nations resolutions on Cyprus, the principles of international legality and the European acquis.
Referring to the humanitarian issue of the missing, Michaelidou stressed that this is consistently set as a priority in every negotiation effort.
She also said that ‘it is inconceivable that Cyprus, a country internationally recognized as a pillar of stability, security and cooperation in the wider region, remains under illegal occupation for more than half a century.’
It is unacceptable that the legitimate citizens of the Republic of Cyprus are deprived of the basic freedoms and rights that every other European citizen enjoys, she concluded.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said that one of the greatest responsibilities of the State is to never abandon the search for the truth and to work tirelessly to determine the fate of every missing person.
Delivering the eulogy at the national memorial service for the fallen hero during the Turkish invasion of 1974, Christakis Neokleous (Zeniou), the Minister said that the identification of his remains, in 2001, “could not ease the pain. But it could offer something invaluable. Certainty. So that his parents could, after so many years, say goodbye to him as he deserved.”
One of the State’s greatest responsibilities, he added, is to “never abandon the search for the truth. To persist until justice is served to every family that has been waiting for an answer.”
“To work tirelessly to determine the fate of every missing person. And to remain firmly committed to the struggle for a just, viable and functional solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of international law, United Nations resolutions and the principles of the European Union,” he concluded.
Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Irene Piki, addressed the memorial service of the Metropolis of Kition for the fallen heroes of the Turkish invasion.
She said that the Republic of Cyprus supports the enhanced efforts of the UN Secretary-General, invests in the increased interest of the EU and considers the appointment of the European Commission Special Representative for the Cyprus issue important.
She underlined that “the vindication of the heroes’ sacrifice can only be achieved through the end of the occupation, the liberation and the reunification of Cyprus”, reiterating the government’s commitment to continue efforts to resume talks within the agreed framework of the United Nations.
Piki noted that the resolution of the Cyprus problem is the top priority of the government, underlining that efforts are being made to create the conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations on the basis of the agreed framework of the United Nations, the European acquis and the principles of international law.
Finally, she said that the existing diplomatic window “must be utilized with unity, seriousness and national self-confidence”.
Delivering a eulogy on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, at the memorial service for the heroes of the Community of Peristerona, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr Nicodemos Damianou, said that “with consistency, responsibility and determination, we are working tirelessly to create the conditions that will allow the resumption of direct negotiations, aiming at a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the agreed framework of the United Nations, the negotiating acquis, the principles, values and law of the European Union”.
He stated that “a particularly important diplomatic effort is underway to restart the negotiation process, an effort that reflects the sincere political will of our side and is recognized by the international community”.
The Government, he stressed, actively supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General in this direction, also taking advantage of the increased interest of the European Union for more active involvement.
Concluding, he said that the greatest justification for the sacrifice of our heroes, can only be the end of the occupation, the liberation and the reunification of our homeland.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare of the Republic of Cyprus, Clea Papaellina, delivered a eulogy, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, at the annual national memorial service for the fallen heroes and prayer for the missing persons of the Municipality of Polemidia.
She said that the solution of the Cyprus issue is a top priority for the President of the Republic and the Government, noting that ‘a very serious initiative’ is underway to resume talks.
Referring to the Turkish invasion, she said that it destroyed ” lives and dreams, uprooted thousands of people and left behind dead, missing, refugees and a divided and semi-occupied homeland”.
The Government, she said, is working hard to create the conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations for a comprehensive solution, based on the agreed framework of the United Nations and the principles and values of the European Union.
‘A very serious initiative to resume talks’ is underway, which began after the persistent efforts and political will of the Republic of Cyprus, she said, pointing out that Cyprus has the support of Greece, its partners in the EU, the European institutions and other states.
The greatest honour to the fallen and the missing is the continuation of the efforts to end the occupation and liberate Cyprus, she concluded.
Shipping Deputy Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanolis, delivered a eulogy, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, at the annual memorial service for the fallen heroes during the coup d’état and Turkish invasion of 1974, in Limassol.
The end of the occupation, the liberation and the reunification of Cyprus constitute the highest duty towards the fallen, the missing, the refugees and the entire Cypriot people, she pointed out.
“The best honour to the sacrifice of those who defended our homeland is the continuation of the struggle for a free, reunited and liberated Cyprus from the occupation troops,” she said.
The Deputy Minister noted that the Government is working, with a sense of historical responsibility, to create the conditions that will allow the resumption of direct negotiations, on the basis of the agreed framework of the United Nations, the negotiating acquis, international law and the principles and values of the European Union.
Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, delivered a eulogy at the annual national memorial service for the fallen heroes and at the prayer for the missing persons of the Germasogeia Municipal District.
The Spokesman said that the initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the more active involvement of the EU, the appointment of an envoy of the European Commission and the interconnection of progress in EU-Turkey relations with the Cyprus issue, constitute a new political environment.
He also assured that the Government will continue to utilize every window of opportunity to solve the national problem.
‘At a time when the initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General is underway, we remain fully committed to our effort to resume substantive negotiations,’ he continued, noting that ‘with clear political will and realism, we will continue to utilize every diplomatic tool, every possibility, every window of opportunity.’
Letymbiotis noted that two important international pillars, the United Nations and the European Union, are activated in parallel and operate complementary, adding that ‘this development is not coincidental,’ but ‘the result of our persistent diplomatic efforts and a consistent strategy by President Christodoulides that seeks to mobilize all available international and European levers towards a solution.’
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.
After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.
A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.
According to statistical data published on the CMP website by June 30, 2026 out of 2002 missing persons 1,719 were exhumed and 1,075 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 764 were identified and 746 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 311 were identified and 181 are still missing.