Cyprus commemorates resistance fighters and fallen soldiers of 1974

Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou participated in commemorative events marking the 1974 coup against President Makarios and the subsequent Turkish invasion. During a memorial service for the 28 soldiers of the 398th Infantry Battalion, Ioannou honored those who died in combat in areas such as Epicho and the Chatos enclave. He emphasized the ongoing search for two missing persons from Potamia, Andreas Varnava Kourounas and Panayiotis Loizou Karageorgis. In a separate address, the minister honored resistance fighters who defended democratic institutions against the July 15, 1974 coup organized by the military junta in Athens. Ioannou stated that the state's debt to these individuals remains unfulfilled as long as the island remains divided. He described the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem as a priority, noting cautious optimism regarding renewed negotiations. The minister also commended the Committee for the Preparation and Maintenance of the Register of Resistance Fighters for preserving historical documentation. He reiterated that determining the fate of all missing persons remains a supreme humanitarian obligation under international law.