On Tuesday 4 June 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis, representing the President of the Hellenic Government, attended the celebrations held at the Hellenic Naval Academy for the 51st Anniversary of the 1973 Navy Mutiny, in the presence of Her Excellence the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou.
The celebration was attended by the Chief/HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief/HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief/HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras, the Chief/HAFGS, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the representative of the Hellenic Parliament, MP for Athens South Sector, B3 Constituency, Mr. Dionissis Hatzidakis, as well as active duty and retired officers and NCOs, family members of Admiral Nikos Pappas, crew members of the destroyer “Velos”, and relatives of the officers who participated in the Navy Mutiny.
The Deputy Minister, in his address, emphasised that the Navy Mutiny was the spark that set off the overthrow of the dictatorship. At the same time, he stressed that, today, when upcoming challenges do not have to do with the safety of our democratic political system, but take place in an ever changing geopolitical environment, the Armed Forces are dedicated to the defence of our national sovereignty and train daily to be ready to successfully face every threat, developing the feeling of safety throughout Greek society. He admiringly mentioned those who struggled, with self-negation, towards overthrowing the dictatorship, and for the Ideals of Democracy, Liberty, Justice and Human Rights.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated, among others:
“In a juncture in history brimming with symbolism for Hellenism, since this year we celebrate 50 years of uninterrupted democratic life in our country, the conscious remembrance in our collective memory of them, who with their actions contributed to the restoration of democracy, in order for us to enjoy its benefits, is the least tribute we can render them.
Today, 50 years later, and under completely different socio-economic conditions, considering the events of the time, we cannot help but feel awed by those who risked their lives, their corporal integrity, their familial happiness, and career, for an ideal: Restoring democracy in our country. An ideal, which at the time, in the wake of an all-powerful junta, could potentially be considered utopian, even suicidal, if I may. Yet, this ideal, this noble idea, was realised, thanks to the self-sacrifice and selflessness of the officers of our Navy.
Today, we can rest assured that our democracy lays on strong foundations. It is not a political system we have gained effortlessly, but we have secured it through many struggles, during our modern history. The period after the dictatorship in particular is the crowning of all these struggles, which led to the development of democratic institutions, the incorporation of our country into the European Union and the exemplary functioning of the democratic system. So, a special role has been played by the Armed Forces, and the Navy especially, in this social change. The liberal ideology of its cadre, the unsurpassable love for democratic institutions, and the democratic traditions of the Arm, paved the way to the Navy Mutiny, and became the spark which set off the overthrow of the dictatorship. The fact that our country today, is an exemplary democracy, is due in part to this particular movement.
Today, challenges do not concern the safety of our democratic system, but the ever changing geopolitical environment.
Our Armed Forces are dedicated to safeguarding our national sovereignty, and train daily to be ready to face every threat, maintaining the feeling of safety throughout Greek society.
Honour and glory to the people who fought selflessly to overthrow the dictatorship, and for the ideals of Liberty, Democracy, Justice and Human Rights.”
