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Ioannidis: We Must Not Accept the Turkish Occupation as Normal

Published March 15, 2026, 12:10
Ioannidis: We Must Not Accept the Turkish Occupation as Normal

The Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nikolaos Ioannidis, in a memorial speech for Theophilos Georgiades, emphasized that it is everyone's duty not to accept the Turkish occupation as normal and to confront oblivion and apathy. Georgiades was described as the living conscience of Cyprus, who refused to compromise with the occupation and oppression, both in Cyprus and of the Kurdish people. Ioannidis mentioned Georgiades' contribution to the struggle for the freedom of Cyprus, through his work at the Press and Information Office and his efforts to determine the fate of missing persons. He stressed that Georgiades perceived the Cyprus issue as an issue of invasion and occupation, not as a simple local dispute. Georgiades believed that Cyprus should identify with every oppressed people and defend freedom, democracy and dignity everywhere. He was a founding member of the Solidarity Committee for Kurdistan, supporting the Kurdish struggle for self-determination, which made him a target for those who served violence and silence. The Deputy Minister stressed that the murder of Georgiades was an attempt to silence his voice, but his ideas remain alive. In conclusion, Ioannidis called for the continuation of the struggle for the liberation of Cyprus, keeping alive the principles and values for which Georgiades sacrificed himself.