Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou on an AKEL delegation visit to schools in Rizokarpaso

 

18 December 2025, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Every time we visit the occupied territories, whether to hold meetings with Turkish Cypriot organizations and political parties or to visit Greek Cypriot schools in Rizokarpaso, as we have done today on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, three words, I would say, characterize the feelings we experience.

First, we feel sadness. Sadness for what is currently under occupation. Beautiful regions, rich areas, areas where generations of brave Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were raised and grew up, in free territory, where our people built their lives.

We feel anger. We feel anger towards those who, through their crimes and actions, brought destruction to this land. Anger at the Greek junta in Athens, anger at Grivas’ EOKA B, which, with its terrorism and coup d’état, opened the door for Turkey to invade.

At the same time, with these visits, and especially with what we have seen here today in the schools, at the children’s Christmas party, we feel even more determined. Filled with determination to continue our struggle, so that we can achieve the long-awaited solution of the Cyprus problem that will put an end to the Turkish occupation, reunite our homeland and people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who together, through their work and efforts, will build a peaceful, happy future for our country and its people.

We will continue to devote all our energies to this struggle, so that Cyprus and our people shall be vindicated.