House president and Disy leader Annita Demetriou on Wednesday said that unity and a sense of responsibility are essential for securing the country’s future.

Speaking after the student parade outside the Greek embassy in Nicosia marking the March 25 anniversary, Demetriou described the day as a “double celebration” for Hellenism.

“We celebrate both the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and the decision of the nation to throw off Ottoman rule,” she said.

Amid what she described as “uncertainty and instability”, Demetriou stressed the need to safeguard the country’s security and stability “not with slogans, but with responsibility, seriousness and conscious choices”.

“Only in this way can we move forward, always together with Greece,” she said, adding that recent events have shown that “Greece is not far away”.

Demetriou said that being Greek entails responsibility and a daily way of life, adding that “if we are truly united, we can achieve that which seems impossible”.

“That is the message of the day,” she said.

She also thanked students for their participation in the parade.