NICOSIA -- An event was organised in Nicosia on Monday morning to mark Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day), honouring the 20 million who died during the 1st World War and Cypriots who perished during the 2nd World War.

At exactly 11.00 in the morning a two minute silence was observed.

The event is organised every year by the Cyprus World War Two Association at the memorial of the 2nd World War.

Every government and society in general have an obligation to remember and honour those who gave up their life in the fight for freedom and democracy, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias said, in an address read on his behalf by Presidential Commissioner Giorgos Iacovou.

It is important to keep the memory of millions of casualties of the two World Wars alive, he noted, adding that everyone should remember the disaster humanity faced during the two Wars and to try to avoid such occurrences in future.

Veterans of 2nd World War chairman Loizos Demetriou said that Cyprus took part in both Wars.

During the 2nd World War 20,000 volunteers from Cyprus, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cyrpiots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins, took part. Six hundred of them were killed and are buried in 56 military cemeteries in 16 countries of Europe and the Middle East.

At the same time 2,500 Cypriots were held captive in concentration camps in Central Europe, 35 of who died, whilst some of them were executed.