The Alternate Minister of National Defence Fotis Kouvelis after the end of the military parade in the city of Xanthi where he attended the celebration on the National Holiday, representing the government, delivered the following statement:

“25th of March is a day of honour; a day of honour to those who stood their ground, to the fighters of freedom, to the Greek people, who cast the yoke of the Ottoman tyranny. A day of commemoration; a day of commemoration which reminds us to defend our country, our land, constantly. Greece is a peaceful country. Greece has not a belligerent conduct. Greece wants the cooperation of peoples, but this definitely does not mean that Greece, with its Armed Forces and the Greek people united, will not defend its integrity and its national rights. The Greek people and the Armed Forces will not allow anyone to dispute our national rights, our sovereignty rights, as provided for and established under the International Law and International Treaties. Happy 25thof March to everybody!”

In a question about the issue of the two Greek soldiers detained in Turkey, he answered: “We have developed all that action. The issue has been brought to the attention of every international institution, the Summit, every direction and we strive to bring our soldiers back home as soon as possible”.