April 1 is a milestone in the history of Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday night addressing an event to mark 70 years since the Eoka struggle against British rule started.

“The 1st of April 1955 is a milestone in the history of Cyprus, in the history of Hellenism and a decisive milestone in the turbulent life of our country,” he said.

“It was the day when the spirit of an entire nation rose against colonial rule, a day when history was written in fire and blood,” he said at Nicosia’s Tassos Papadopoulos – Eleftheria Stadium in Nicosia.

Thousands of citizens, veterans, and officials filled the stands, waving Cypriot and Greek flags. The ceremony, filled with patriotic songs and solemn tributes, was the centrepiece of the anniversary commemorations that included church services and marches earlier in the day.

Christodoulides paid tribute to the fighters, describing their struggle as “the most selfless and heroic act in our nation’s history.” He spoke of the young men and women who risked everything, the families who suffered, and the lives lost in the pursuit of independence.

But beyond remembrance, the president issued a challenge to the current generation.

“Seventy years later, our country remains divided,” he said. “The struggle for freedom did not end in 1960, nor did it end in 1974. We have a duty to continue.”

The Eoka uprising may not have achieved its ultimate goal of union with Greece, but Christodoulides stressed that it laid the foundation for the creation of the Republic of Cyprus. However, he acknowledged that many of the fighters’ hopes remain unfulfilled.

“Seventy years later we will have to do our self-criticism. We must ask ourselves, have we truly honoured their fight?” he said.

“Freedom is not just a memory; it is a responsibility. It is our duty to work towards the liberation and reunification of our homeland.”

His words were met with applause from the crowd, many of whom had lived through the turbulent decades that followed the Eoka struggle.

The event also included recitations of historical accounts, musical performances and a symbolic lighting of torches in honour of the fallen fighters.

The president concluded his speech with a call to remember the past, not as an obstacle to peace, but as a guide for the future. 

“A just and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue can only be built on truth and respect for our history,” he said. “We owe it to those who came before us, and to those who will come after.”