The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos visited the city of Kalavrita, where he attended the celebrations for the anniversary of the city’s liberation.
The Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“Today is a very important anniversary we celebrate here in Kalavrita. It is the beginning of the Greek revolution, where Germanos III of Old Patras blessed and raised the flag of the Revolution. The revolution began by few, yet courageous, who proved that the few, when they have a courageous soul and they fight for national integrity and national independence, they become more powerful than the other side.
We honour Kalavrita, a city that is not coincidental in Greek history, nor are its people circumstantial. This is where the Greek Revolution started from, this is also where the German conqueror hit, massacring the entire population during World War II.
As Minister of National Defence, but also as a member of the government, I would like to tell you that we are now in the position – after the new data the Ministry of National Defence has collected from the United States of America, namely Wehrmacht’s archives – to begin the procedure to claim war reparations and the condemnation of the holocaust of Kalavrita.
In cooperation with the Armed Forces, we will hand over to the Mayor of Kalavrita all data which have been processed by a group of the Armed Forces that have already started this task, under the Alternate Minister Mr. Isihos”.
JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: On Monday, a meeting between the Prime Minister and Ms Merkel will take place.
P. KAMMENOS: I would like to say that these last days were very important. The Prime Minister, the Government and the Greek people have proved that when you claim what is right, then you can discuss with everybody. The Greek Government and the Prime Minister kept a fair position, asking for the possibility to implement the mandate we received at the elections of January 25th. I am particularly happy since the outcome of these discussions is positive and that our partners have realised that a country cannot be run by a Government which transforms the bills it is sent, but by implementing the mandate it is given by the people. I believe that the decision to follow the agreement of February 20th is very important, not only for Greece but for Europe as well.
JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: If you may make a first assessment of the summit?
P. KAMMENOS: I believe that the outcomes are very positive. The Government achieved what it asked for, a bridge until June, by implementing a policy at which no new, devastating measures will exist for the Greek people, and by implementing a policy following a mandate given by the Greek people.
JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: What about the reforms that will be asked?
P. KAMMENOS: Look; I do not know if some people want that. Maybe, some people might believe, because of their history, that within Democracies, mandates can also be given by others, other than the people. And i am sorry for the fact that certain among them hold governmental positions. They must understand – and this refers to the country which was the cradle of democracy, Greece – that the peoples are those who chose the governments; neither the creditors, nor the institutions. Therefore, they should respect Democracy, they should respect the Constitution, they should respect the countries’ national independence and they should remember that, in Europe, all countries are equal.
JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: Mister Minister, as far as the war reparations are concerned, since we are now here at Kalavrita, the descendants of the Holocaust of Kalavrita’s victims express their fear that their claims might become second-rate.
P. KAMMENOS: There is no such chance. I already told you that, actually, there is new evidence. Both for Greek procedure and for international law, when new evidence emerges, the procedures start over. For Kalavrita, as well as for other tormented cities, all over Greece, there is Wehrmacht’s evidence that we officially took from the United States of America, which prove what we all already know.
JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: The Germans say that they do not accept them.
P. KAMMENOS: There is too much blood shed in this very place. for me to comment on the statement of the German spokesperson.
