The Minister of National Defence Mr. F. Fragkos, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General M. Kostarakos and the Commander of Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General G. Sofianidis, attended today the celebrations on the occasion of the 188th Anniversary of the island of Kassos holocaust, representing the Hellenic Government.
Mr. Fragkos, following the completion of the celebrations made the following statement:
“Today the inhabitants of Kassos honoured with their universal presence the sacrifice of their ancestors, in the presence of his Reverence, as well as the local and regional authorities.
It was appropriately mentioned that the subjugating may have razed the island, however the Ottomans did not manage extinguishing it off the face of the earth. As Ms Sofia Katalanou mentioned, without feelings of misery, without taunting their own luck and based on their mourning, they rebuilt Kassos, remaking it thus an island of ship-owners. The island which, with its one hundred ships, participated in the struggle for the country’s liberation.
However, what causes us grief is that from time to time our neighbours emerge trying to question our level of culture and our dignity. Since material possessions are not everything in life, but culture, sciences and art, where our country has always been a leader and always will be.
The Armed Forces are always close to the defenders of our borderland, they stand by their side in a modest way and enjoy their love.
Finally, I would like to say that a demand was been forwarded to me, to make the members of the territorial forces active after the age of 60, until their 65th year of age. I wish that they will reach one hundred, so that we will have them with us.
Thank you”.
