House President Annita Demetriou on Sunday called for the immediate resumption of talks to achieve a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

She was speaking at the national memorial service for the fallen and missing of the Nicosia suburb of Omorfita, which was held on Sunday at the church of Agia Varvara, in Kaimakli, Nicosia.

“We demand the safeguarding of the freedom and human rights of all the Cypriot people. We seek the immediate resumption of talks to achieve a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, which is based on the resolutions of the United Nations, the provisions of International Law and the principles and values of the European Union.”

“Only in a free, independent and sovereign Cyprus will all its citizens be able to prosper and coexist harmoniously and peacefully, and thus the future that our country deserves will be secured.”

It is only when this is achieved that we “will have proven ourselves worthy of our dead heroes.”

Carrying out a brief historical review, Demetriou referred to the Greek Cypriot residents of Omorfita who were killed in 1958, 1963 and 1974.

“We bow with reverence to the memory of our heroes. Those who with their courage and fortitude resisted the enemies of our country, the enemies of freedom and democracy. Who put their family, their country, freedom above their personal safety and who fell for the principles and values of democracy, law, Hellenism and for the protection of Cyprus.”

“And today, more than ever, we need to commemorate heroes. Because today, more than ever, we need models of selflessness, altruism and unwavering love and defence of our country,” she stressed.