Mari: President of Cyprus apologizes for the 2011 tragedy

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides has once again issued an official apology on behalf of the state for the mistakes and omissions that led to the explosion at the «Evangelos Florakis» naval base in Mari on July 11, 2011.

During the memorial ceremony dedicated to the 13 people who died, he said that the state is obliged to learn from the tragedy and do everything possible to ensure that such a thing never happens again.

According to the president, the authorities are now introducing stricter procedures, improving staff training, strengthening security measures and using international standards to prevent similar disasters.

Christodoulides stressed that responsibility to citizens is the main duty of public officials. He once again asked for forgiveness from the families of the victims, noting that the tragedy not only claimed 13 lives, but also destroyed the country's largest energy facility, caused enormous economic damage and became the cause of one of the most severe crises in the history of the Republic of Cyprus.

July 11 in Cyprus is observed every year as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Mari explosion and a reminder of the need to ensure the safety of people and critical infrastructure.