66 years of the Republic of Cyprus | Greek F-16 Viper over Nicosia and a strong message from Greece - Cyprus

With greek f-16 Vipers Tearing through the skies of nicosia And the national Guard Showcasing its new defense capabilities, the republic of cyprus Celebrated Its 66th anniversary Of independence. the Military parade On october 1st this Year Had a strong greek imprint, but also a strong international presence.

A special moment was the passage of two Greek Air Force F-16 Vipers. The fighters had been relocated from Souda to Paphos and flew armed over the parade area, provoking prolonged applause.

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Greece's presence was also strong on the ground, with units of the Hellenic Republic Armed Forces, Hummer vehicles, "LEONIDAS" and M106 armored vehicles, as well as Cypriot students from Greek military schools. Also present in Nicosia were the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias and the Chief of General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis.

For the first time, military forces from Egypt and the United Kingdom participated, while forces from the United States and France were also present. An Egyptian CN-295 CASA transport aircraft also appeared in the Cypriot airspace. The presence of the foreign delegations highlighted the expanded network of defense cooperation that the Republic of Cyprus has developed.

The new weapons systems of the National Guard also attracted particular interest. The parade featured the Barak MX anti-aircraft system, the Exocet MM40 Block 3C coastal batteries, the Spike anti-tank missiles, as well as new unmanned aerial and naval vehicles.

Athens' message from Nicosia was clear. Nikos Dendias underlined Greece's steadfast presence at the side of the Republic of Cyprus, declaring that "Greece is and will remain nearby," with Greek fighter jets above the parade and the ELDYK on the ground adding special symbolism to his words.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, sent a message from his side of continuing the effort for the liberation and reunification of Cyprus, while emphasizing that the country's deterrent power is strengthened as long as the Turkish occupation continues.

Sixty-six years after the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 and more than half a century after the Turkish invasion of 1974, October 1st remains a day of remembrance, historical continuity and national responsibility. This year, the image of Greek F-16s over Nicosia gave the anniversary a special symbolism, recalling the unbreakable bonds between Greece and Cyprus.