Fifteen years after the devastating explosion at Mari, Nikolas Ioannides, son of naval commander Andreas Ioannides and now Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, and Katia Cleanthous, widow of warrant officer Kleanthes Cleanthous, say some of the lessons of 11 July 2011 have yet to be fully acted upon and that the sacrifice of the 13 heroes must never be forgotten.
Speaking on the sidelines of the annual memorial service for Andreas Ioannides and Kleanthes Cleanthous in Limassol, Ioannides expressed his gratitude to the public who, he said, stood by the families from the very beginning.
“Without the support of all those people, we could not have carried the burden and the pressure,” he said.
He noted that the anniversary of 11 July inevitably brings back painful memories but also a sense of pride.
“We know that our loved ones did not hesitate and did not step back.”
Ioannides said the men left behind values and examples that should continue to guide society.
“They did what every responsible Cypriot would do.”
He added that anniversaries such as the 1974 invasion, the deaths of Tassos Isaak and Solomos Solomou, and the Mari tragedy all serve as reminders of the courage and sacrifices made by Cypriots in defence of freedom and dignity.
Asked whether the sacrifice of the 13 men had resonated with society, Ioannides said public support demonstrated that it had not been in vain.
“It was made precisely to protect the collective dignity of our people.”
At the same time, he acknowledged that many issues remain unresolved.
“There are certainly many things that still need to be corrected, and we will not stop striving for that. Full justice has not yet come, but through our lives and our work we will continue to honour those who put the common good before themselves.”
“Mari Did Not Change Enough”
For her part, Katia Cleanthous said the families want people to remember that courage and duty are demonstrated through actions rather than words.
“Our heroes proved this by placing the most precious thing they had — their lives — before their duty, honouring their uniform, their oath and their responsibility.”
She urged people not to forget, saying that society too often has a tendency to move on from difficult events.
Cleanthous also expressed disappointment that, in her view, Cyprus has not learned enough from the disaster.
“I see that Mari has not corrected many things. We have not become more responsible, and that saddens me greatly.”
As the anniversary approaches, she said the families continue to experience a mixture of emotions.
“These days fill me — and I imagine all the families — with anger, uncertainty and sadness, but also with great pride and awe for the heroism and self-sacrifice of our loved ones.”
She concluded by expressing the hope that their example would one day serve as a lesson for everyone.
Source: CNA
