President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has conveyed the message that 50 years after the Turkish invasion, the Republic of Cyprus not only is not a defunct state but instead is an EU member state with a significant role in the Eastern Mediterranean. Addressing an event in Athens organised by the Federation of Cypriot Organizations in Greece and the Cyprus Archbishopric 'I Speak to You Tonight of Freedom! - 50 Years of Occupation, 50 Years of Struggle for Liberation', President Christodoulides thanked attendees, noting that their presence sends important messages to multiple recipients. These messages are that 50 years on, despite what some others are trying, "the Republic of Cyprus not only is not defunct but is a proud member state of the European Union, taking on significant initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East, proving in practice its role as a pillar of security and stability." He dedicated the event as a small token of gratitude from the Republic of Cyprus to t he Greeks who were in Cyprus in 1974 and to all those who defended the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. 'To all those who lost their lives on the front lines, to all those who, 50 years later, are still missing', he added. Concluding, President Christodoulides assured that as long as there is still occupation, 'we, Cyprus and Greece, have the obligation to do everything possible to achieve liberation and to prove in practice that there are no lost homelands.' 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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Source: Cyprus News Agency