The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikos Dendias, representing the Government, attended today’s parade for the National Anniversary of 25 March 1821 that was held in Athens before HE the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
The parade was attended by the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Mr Konstantinos Tasoulas, Metropolitan Iakovos of Thavmakos representing the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece and the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Vasilis Palmas.
The parade was also attended by the Member of the Hellenic Parliament for SYRIZA Ms. Elena Akrita – representing the opposition, the President of PASOK – Movement for Change Mr. Nikos Androulakis, the President of the Spartans Mr. Vasilis Stigkas, the Vice-President of the European Commission Mr. Margaritis Schinas, the Member of the European Parliament Mr. Manolis Fragkos representing the Greek Solution party, the Member of the ewllHellenic Parliament Mr. Tasos Oikonomopoulos representing the Victory party, Mr. Dimitris Vitsas representing the New Left party, the Regional Governor of Attica Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias, the Mayor of Athens Mr. Charis Doukas, and the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Mr. Antonios Oikonomou.
The military leadership was represented by the Chief HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras and the Chief HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis.
The Independence Day parade was also attended by the Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard Vice Admiral Georgios Alexandrakis, the Chief of the Hellenic Police Major General Dimitrios Mallios and the Chief of the Fire Department Lieutenant General Theodoros Vagias.
Earlier, Mr. Dendias attended the Doxology at the Athens Cathedral and the wreath laying by the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Katerina Sakellaropoulou at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier.
After the end of the parade, the Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“Good morning and Happy Independence Day!
We are celebrating today the National Anniversary of 25 March 1821; 203 years since the Revolution that led to the National Regeneration.
At the same time, however, we are honouring hundreds of thousands of our countrymen, who lost their lives during those 203 years so that our country would be free and proud.
We are also paying tribute to our Armed Forces. We are so proud of what we saw today. Of their morale and of the systems that support the exceptional human resources.
Nevertheless, in order to perform their duty, they need support; and such a support comes with the implementation of the “2030 Agenda”. The greatest reform in the history of the Greek Armed Forces as of the establishment of the new Greek State.
Long live Greece! God bless you!”.
