Cyprus on Tuesday repatriated the remains of 10 Greek soldiers killed during hostilities and Turkish military intervention three decades ago.
The remains, exhumed and identified through DNA tests as part of a process initiated by the Cyprus government since the late 1990s, were returned to their families at a solemn ceremony in Nicosia.
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said the 10 officers and soldiers finally could "return home as heroes, to the land they belong to."
Greek Deputy Defense Minister Constantinos Tasoulas, along with the Greek families concerned, were present at the ceremony and laid wreaths.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers who pushed for union with Greece.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared the island's division and set up "the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Turkey.
Ankara maintains a military presence in northern Cyprus with up to 40,000 troops.
The Cyprus National Guard has about 10,000 Greek Cypriot soldiers but many of its senior officers are from Greece, apart from 1,250 Greek troops stationed in the south.
Referring to the Cyprus problem, Papadopoulos said "we fight for true reunification of the people and the land and not for a fragile association of parts of our island, which are divided by force."
"We fight for a functional and viable solution, for a secure future, not for an insecure tomorrow," he added, noting that Greece has always stood by the side of the Greek Cypriots.
Source: Xinhua
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