House President Annita Demetriou has called for unity and renewed commitment to efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, stressing that the national interest must remain above party considerations and personal ambitions.
Speaking during a special parliamentary session marking the anniversaries of the 15 July 1974 coup and the 20 July Turkish invasion, Demetriou said remembrance remains a responsibility as long as Cyprus continues to live with the consequences of occupation.
She said the House convened to condemn both the coup and the invasion, while paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in defence of democracy, constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to Demetriou, forgetting can never be an option while the country remains divided.
She accused Turkey of pursuing a long-term policy of settlement in the occupied areas, seeking to alter their demographic, cultural and religious character, while also attempting to change the status quo in Varosha and the buffer zone.
Demetriou further accused Ankara of challenging the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and pursuing revisionist policies in the Eastern Mediterranean through agreements with the breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration.
She said such actions constitute clear violations of international and European law and noted that Cypriots remain the only citizens of the European Union unable to enjoy fundamental rights throughout the entirety of their country.
Backing for UN efforts
Demetriou described UN Secretary-General António Guterres' initiative to restart negotiations as an important opportunity that should neither be underestimated nor ignored.
She said all sides should work constructively to break the deadlock and resume meaningful talks, warning that the approaching end of the UN chief's term could complicate future efforts if progress is not achieved soon.
At the same time, she stressed the importance of closely monitoring regional and international developments, particularly those involving the European Union.
EU role key to progress
The House president said Cyprus should continue to build on its status as an EU member state while remaining committed to the UN framework.
She welcomed the appointment of the EU's new special envoy for Cyprus, saying the move adds momentum to the latest diplomatic initiative.
Demetriou argued that Turkey cannot seek closer relations with the European Union without demonstrating meaningful progress on the Cyprus issue.
She added that this should remain a common position for both Cyprus and Greece.
Rejection of two-state rhetoric
Demetriou reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side remains ready to engage in a new effort aimed at reaching a settlement based on UN Security Council resolutions and EU principles and values.
She stressed that one sovereignty, one citizenship and one international personality remain non-negotiable principles.
According to Demetriou, rhetoric promoting a two-state solution or sovereign equality continues to undermine prospects for progress and should be abandoned.
She also identified security, the withdrawal of troops, guarantees and intervention rights as among the most important issues that must be addressed.
Tribute to victims of violence
In her address, Demetriou made particular reference to women and girls who suffered sexual violence during the Turkish invasion, describing these crimes as a deep and often invisible wound.
She welcomed a recent European Parliament resolution recognising those crimes and called on Turkey to accept responsibility, describing the move as an important step in ensuring that such experiences become part of Europe's collective memory.
Appeal for unity
Concluding her remarks, Demetriou called for unity, responsibility and careful preparation at a critical moment for the Cyprus issue.
She said efforts to achieve reunification should not become the subject of ideological or electoral confrontation and stressed the importance of working together to secure a better future for younger generations.
Demetriou said Cyprus must continue striving for a free, secure and reunited future, adding that division and partition cannot be the island's destiny.
She concluded by saying that lasting progress will come not through division and hostility, but through the determination to build a common future based on peace, democracy and cooperation.
