9/11 anniversary marked in Cyprus: firefighters honoured (Updated)

President Nicos Anastasiades on Saturday stressed the importance for countries to renew their determination in the global fight against terrorism, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 11 September 2001.

“As we mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, a milestone not only for the USA but for the whole world, it is important to renew our firm determination in the global fight against terrorism and radicalization”, Anastasiades posted on Twitter.

He added: “At this solemn occasion, our thoughts are with the victims` families and friends as we also remember the selfless heroism of the firefighters, police officers and paramedics who rushed to the scene of the terrorist attacks”.

A commemoration event also took place in Nicosia in the presence of UN Ambassador to Cyprus Judith Garber, which was attended by Foreign Minister Nicos Christodoulides and outgoing UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar, among others.

The event was held at Lefkotheo stadium in Nicosia and paid tribute to the 343 American firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty on September 11,2001 in New York. Cypriot firefighters who recently battled fires in Greece were also honoured at the event.

Dozens of people, among them Christodoulides, Justice Minister Stefi Drakou, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the fire service and the National Guard attended the event organised by the US Embassy.

They all walked a 2071-step challenge, the same number of steps the 343 first responders climbed on the day of the attack on the World Trade Centre in order to save peoples’ lives. Around 3,000 people died that day and the two towers collapsed into rubble.

During the event voluntary donations were also raised for the purchase of equipment for the Cyprus fire service.

Recalling the tragic events, Garber said in her remarks that “on that day heroism, human compassion and kindness were in full display as first responders charged towards danger to save others”.

“Among those powerful examples of service and self-sacrifice that day were the 343 firefighters, New York’s bravest who gave the last full measure of devotion. They began to climb the 2,071 steps to the top of the north tower to get people to safety,” Garber said.

“So, it is fitting that today as others have done before us that we honour those first responders with the 2,071-step challenge,” she said. “I can think of no more fitting tribute to those heroes than to offer our support to today’s heroes, the Cyprus Fire Service. This summer they showed the same willingness to step into harm’s way to save others in Cyprus and Greece during the worst forest fire season in memory,” she added.

Garber said the Cyprus fire service saved an untold number of lives, homes and acres of forest this summer in Greece.

Christodoulides, in his comments, said that the event sent a loud and clear message that “freedom is a non-negotiable value and that we will never bend to the cruelness of terrorism”.

“We pay tribute and remember the victims today by walking the 2,071 steps of the stadium in honour of the heroic first responders who rushed to the scene and saved so many paying, unfortunately, the ultimate price”, said the minister.

“We salute their bravery and altruism and as we walk these steps simulating their long climb to the top of the World Trade Towers, we draw lessons of resilience, hope and renewal,” he added.

He said the US and Cyprus would remain vigilant in their efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism.
Drakou said the attacks constituted the most forceful example of a terrorist act and the clearest proof that the world can never be safe unless the threat was drastically countered.

“At the same time, we do not forget that besides anger and grief, on that day we witnessed acts of heroism, bravery on behalf of the firefighters who were called to respond to the emergency that followed, showing incomparable courage and self-denial that surpassed the limits of their duty,” she added.