Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis emphasized that the state has “no right to negligence or delay” in response to the 2011 Mari explosion, which claimed 13 lives and injured 62 others. Speaking at a memorial service, he stressed that the tragedy serves as a powerful reminder of the state’s responsibilities to protect its citizens and learn from past mistakes.

Letymbiotis described the victims as heroes and called on Cyprus to honor their memory by strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and public institutions. He linked the importance of security to broader national challenges, including the ongoing division of the island and regional instability, underlining that security is a daily mission and vital for the country’s future.

The ceremony included a trisagion hymn and wreath-laying at the graves of naval commander Andreas Ioannides and staff sergeant Cleanthis Cleanthous. The devastating explosion was caused by the improper storage of ammunition at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, a catastrophic event that Cyprus continues to remember as it works to prevent future tragedies.