Our State, the Republic of Cyprus, is our most important achievement, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, stressed on Sunday on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus.
Today, he says in a 16 August post on 'X', marks 66 years since the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus, "the highest moment in the centuries-old history of our country, the result of the timeless struggles of our people, which culminated in the national liberation and anti-colonial struggle of EOKA that ultimately led to the Independence."
"Our State, the Republic of Cyprus, is our most important achievement. The respect, protection and the continuous upgrading of its status, as well as the strengthening of all its power factors, both domestically and internationally, are our highest priority," the President underlines.
At home, he continues, "by strengthening our security and economy, with policies that modernise our State and continuously improve the quality of life of all citizens, but also internationally, by strengthening the footprint and status of the Republic of Cyprus so that it is treated with respect as a reliable and creative partner."
It is within this framework, the President notes, "that, being clearly more strengthened, we will be able to claim with real demands the long-desired goal of liberation, the end of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of our homeland."
"Through a solution that will be functional and viable and will give new perspective and hope, new horizons in conditions of peace and security. The Republic of Cyprus is above all", he concludes.
Συμπληρώνονται σήμερα 66 χρόνια από την ανακήρυξη της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας, την κορυφαία στιγμή στη μακραίωνη Ιστορία του τόπου μας, αποτέλεσμα διαχρονικών αγώνων του λαού μας, που κορυφώθηκαν με τον εθνικοαπελευθερωτικό και αντιαποικιακό αγώνα της ΕΟΚΑ που τελικά οδήγησε στην… pic.twitter.com/huLmT4hVoX
— NikosChristodoulides (@Christodulides) August 16, 2026
16 August marked the 66th anniversary of the declaration of Cyprus as an independent state. After 82 years under British rule, the last British Governor of Cyprus, Hugh Foot, along with the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, and Vice President, Fazıl Küçük, signed the Zurich-London agreements, which declared the founding of the Republic of Cyprus as an independent and sovereign state.
The signing took place at an official ceremony in the House of Representatives at midnight of 15 to 16 August, 1960. Before the signing, Hugh Foot read the statement by which Cyprus was declared an independent Republic. The Constitution came into effect on 16 August, 1960. In September of the same year, the Republic of Cyprus became a member of the United Nations.
After the conclusion of the first session of the House of Representatives, the flag of the Republic of Cyprus was raised. The British flag was lowered from the Governor's House (currently the Presidential Palace) and from all public buildings the previous day, at sunset.
According to the press of the time, President Makarios had stated the commitment of the Republic of Cyprus, as a new member of the community of free nations, to actively take on its responsibilities and work for the prevalence of the principles and provisions of the United Nations Charter. He also appealed to everyone to join forces and cooperate for the prosperity and progress of the island.
According to the same sources, President Makarios received a multitude of congratulatory messages for the independence of Cyprus, among others, from the UN Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld, the Queen of England, Elizabeth, the President of the USA, Dwight Eisenhower, the President of the United Arab Republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and from many other leaders of countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The independence of the Republic of Cyprus is celebrated on 1 October. The Cabinet designated this day as a holiday on 11 July, 1963.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.
(Source: CNA)
