The Plenary of the House of Representatives paid tribute on Thursday to the Pontian Greek Genocide and the Antifascist Victory Day in World War II.
At the same time, House President Yiannakis Omirou called the international community to apply without discrimination and discounts the principles and values designated by the victory in World War II in order to recall the value of peace and democracy.
The House President said that Cyprus paid a heavy price during the World War II with the volunteers who participated in the struggle against fascism.
Omirou also recalled that Cyprus, still under Turkish occupation, is a victim of violence, expansionism and violation of the principles of international law.
He referred to May 19 designated to commemorate the Pontian Greek Genocide by the Turks. The Pontian Greeks suffered every kind of violence and cruelty, such as massacres, looting of villages, terrorism, rape and persecution.
“The tragic result of all this was the extermination of at least 350,000 Pontian Greeks”, he said and added that the end of Hellenism in Pontus constitutes another example of the Kemalism policy for ethnic cleansing and expansionism of the new Turkey by force, a policy that remains unchanged and Cyprus still suffers from that.
CNA/TKE/MM/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY