Athens events marking Cyprus invasion 'anniversary'

    Representatives of the political leadership of Greece and Cyprus and the Greek military leadership attended memorial events in Athens on Sunday honoring the resistance against the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, ahead of Monday's events that will mark the 35th 'anniversary' of the June 20, 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

    The two-day events are organised by the Association of Cypriots of Greece and the Cypriot Embassy in Athens.

    Speakers at Sunday's events voiced concern that the 35-year delay in resolving the Cyprus issue was rendering the Turkish occupation of the northern part of the island republic a permanent situation.

    Apart from church services, Sunday's events including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Syntagma Square, as well as the inauguration of a two-day exhibition at the Syntagma Metro station.

    Representing the government at Sunday's events, deputy development minister George Vlachos stressed that the only exit from the impasse the Cyprus issue was in was the path of conciliation, adding that the collective security and prosperity of the Cypriot people and respect of the human rights was a condition for any solution reached.

    "We look forward to a united and free Cyprus i which all its inhabitants will live equally, regardless of language, nationality and relibion," Vlachos concluded.

    On behalf of the Greek parliament, House vice-president Anastasios Nerantzis said that the continuing Turkish provocations were proof that Turkey's practice remained unchanged, and warned that this would be taken into consideration by the international and European communities.