The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, accompanied by the Chief HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros and the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Charalambos Laloussis, attended today Friday 21 February 2020 the celebrations marking the 107th anniversary of the liberation of Ioannina, which were also attended by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Prokopios Pavlopoulos.
After the Doxology, which took place in the Church of Agios Athanassios, and a wreath laying ceremony at the Bizani War Monument, the Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“We are celebrating today the Anniversary of the Liberation of Ioannina. It was an era when Greece was adding to its territory, it was evolving to a great power in the Balkans and broader region, it was moving forward.
Greece was able to accomplish all that as all elements of a powerful and firm political leadership, a strong and effective military leadership, poewrful Armed Forces and the people’s high collective national morale, coexisted making Greece move forward. It was just ten years after the liberation of Ioannina that these elements ceased to exist, and the Asia Minor catastrophe took place.
The conflict between the King and the Prime Minister, the National Schism and an overall national fatigue had preceded.
The history lessons here are very clear. When Greece has all four elements I mentioned before: powerful political and military leadership, strong Armed Forces, high collective morale and unanimity, it is able to triumph; and it has triumphed. This is the historical reality.
However, when these elements are absent and division prevails, along with fatigue, it is prone to experiencing disasters; and it has experienced disasters.
Therefore, we should learn from history’s lessons, from our history’s lessons -which is before our eyes- and move forward, collectively trying to find and hold our good traits. We have nothing to fear; other than the worst in us. I think that this is the lesson we should all remember by the reflection that arises after the celebration of this anniversary.
Many happy returns to Ioannina, many happy returns to Epirus”.
