Cypriot firemen honoured by Greek government

THE CYPRIOT firemen, who joined forces with Greek firefighters to combat the huge blazes in Greece, have been honoured in a special ceremony by the Greek government, before their return to Cyprus.

According to Cyprus News Agency, on Sunday the firemen laid a wreath at a monument for those killed on duty.

The ceremony was held in Chalandri, in the presence of Greek Minister of Public Order Viron Polydoras, the Ambassador of Cyprus to Greece Giorgos Georgis and the Chief of the Fire Department Andreas Kois.

Polydoras handed over honorary certificates to the 168 participants in the Cypriot mission and thanked them for their valuable help.

He said that he had thanked Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and that he was in constant touch with Cyprus Justice and Public Order Minister Sophocles Sophocleous and the Police Chief Iacovos Papacostas.

“Once again the fraternal relations between Cyprus and Greece have been reaffirmed,” Polydoras said.

Georgis thanked Polydoras for his words and said that the Cypriot firemen had become “the apostles” of Cyprus in Greece.

Speaking after the ceremony, Polydoras said that following overnight operations at Karistena and operations in Parnonas in the morning, all fires have been extinguished.
??

??

??

??

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.