The Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos who was accompanying the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias at the three-day official visit in Egypt, attended the interallied ceremony for the battle of El Alamein, where he laid wreaths at the Commonwealth War Cemetery, as well as the memorial service at the Greek war memorial, in memoriam of the fallen of the 1st Greek Brigade.
After the completion of the ceremony, Mr. Panagiotopoulos made the following statement:
“It is a great honour for us who are present here at El Alamein, in the middle of the desert, accompanying the President of the Hellenic Republic, to participate in the commemorations for the fallen, all the fallen but particularly the fallen men of the 1st Greek Brigade.
They have set examples of great courage and self-sacrifice. From this sacrifice which was determinant for the outcome of World War II we draw today archetypal messages. We draw courage so that our country will be quickly able to stand on its feet and continue its course.
Immortal is the memory of the fallen on this spot. Great is the honour of those still alive, the ones we met with emotion here, at this modest yet so important ceremony”.
