The Defence Minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, met today in the Ministry of National Defence with the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Sung Choon Park, who pays an official visit to Greece.
Mr. Avramopoulos awarded Mr. Park the commendation of “Star for Merit and Valour”. After the award ceremony, they watched a video consisted of material from the War Museum archives about the action of the Greek expeditionary force in the Korean War (1950-1953).
The event was attended by the Chief of HNDGS, Gen. Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of HAGS, Lt.Gen. Athanasios Tselios, and the Chief of HNGS, Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis.
It was also attended by two Greek veterans, the Chairman of the Union of Korean War Veterans, M.Gen.(ret) Stylianos Drakos, and one member of the Union’s chairmanship, Lt.Gen.(ret) Georgios Tsouvalas.
The two Ministers made the following statements:
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: It is a special pleasure to meet the Minister of Veterans Affairs of Korea in the Ministry of National Defence. It is a country with which, despite the long distance, we have developed strong ties of friendship, cooperation and understanding over many decades within the international organizations.
We welcome the Chairman of the Union of Korean War Veterans, M.Gen.(ret),Stylianos Drakosand the member of the Union’s Chairmanship, Lt.Gen.(ret),Georgios Tsouvalas. It is a special honour for us that they are present today among us and I would like to tell them that we always commemorate and honour with respect their great contribution to that war.
Minister,
Your visit today in Athens, Greece, apart from its symbolic aspect is essential because it mostly reminds us of our common struggle for freedom back then.
It brings us back memories of our own contribution with the Greek expeditionary force to the Korean War in 1950 which was the first participation of our country in a United Nations mission.
The Greek expeditionary force, consisting of 1000 persons mainly of two services, Air Force and Army, contributed by making great sacrifices to protecting the integrity of the Republic of Korea and, of course, freedom, which is so much desired by all peoples of the world.
About 20 years ago, I was deeply touched when I had the honour to visit the border point between the Republic of Korea and the North Korea where a monument has been built, dedicated to Greek fallen soldiers in that war.
Minister, I would like to extend thanks on behalf of the Greek state and the Greek Armed Forces to your Government and all Governments so far which keep alive the memories of this Greek contribution to the struggle for democracy and freedom.
By awarding you this medal of valour, we honour your country, we honour the Armed Forces and, above all, the veterans of Korea, fellow combatants of our soldiers in this war which has been recorded in history as one of the most important ones, since it defended the superb and noble principles and values in the context of the United Nations Organisation, freedom, human dignity and democracy.
Today, our two countries cooperate harmoniously within the framework of international organizations and they have also developed strong bilateral relations in the areas of investments, shipping and finance.
Greek ship-owners have visited the shipbuilding industry of Korea and more than 300 high capacity ships have been or are being built in your country.
Moreover, regarding the defence area, a procedure is underway which will lead to the conclusion of a bilateral defence agreement between our two countries.
In conclusion, Minister, I welcome you once again and I ask you, when you return home, to convey a message of friendship and solidarity from the Greek people to the Korean people.
This message will be conveyed to the Korean people also by the President of the Hellenic Republic in his forthcoming official visit in early December.
In this context, I welcome you again and I ask you to have the floor.
SUNG CHOON PARK: HonorableMr. Avramopoulos, honorableLadiesandGentlemen,
Thank you very much for your warmest welcome and the Greek contribution to freedom and maintenance of democracy in our country.
I assure you that our people and our Governments have not forgotten the struggles and sacrifices made by the soldiers of the Greek Armed Forces, back then in the Korean War.
With these sacrifices and struggles of the Greek soldiers, Korea managed to recover and create the miracle, as we call the manner in which it could develop democracy and achieve economic growth.
It is for this reason thatourGovernmentneverstopstryingtoshowitsgratitudeby inviting the war veterans to Korea and sending government representatives to countries which helped Korea.
The purpose of our visit is in this context too. Today, we invited the veterans and their offspring, to show them our gratitude personally, and we will grant scholarships to veterans’ grandchildren.
This year has great significance for us becauseit marks the 60th anniversary since the Korean War armistice was achieved.
We are in this friendly country which helped us, proportionately, more than others. And we thank you very much and will remain grateful forever.
Finally, allow me to mention the significance of concluding the Korean War armistice.
60 years ago,we celebrated the fact that the alliance between the UN and the Korean Army managed to stop this expansionary action of the communists around its borders.
And this day has come again, a day of commemoration for the alliance of the UN and the protection of freedom and democracy despite the sacrifices which were being made for three years.
Our Governmenthas established the 27th of Julyas the “UN Alliance Day” for Korea to celebrate this fact. And the Government plans to find more cases of bright common struggles in battle or other circumstances during the war.
The bilateral relations between Greece and Korea began with these bloodties and we hope that they will keep developing constantly over the next 60 years and even later.
I have heard that many Koreans visit Greece privately for tourism or trade purposes. And I promise you, Minister, to convey your message on friendship and solidarity to our people and our Government.
Finally, I would like to thank you again for your warmest welcome in your country and,particularly,in your Ministry and also for awarding me the medal.
