‘Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, National Guards and Civilians,

The 19th of May is a day of celebration during which we pay tribute to the Pontian Greeks, who suffered hell on earth from the Turkish brutality, which, however, failed to vanish the history, the roots, the high morale of the nation and the everlasting spirit of the Pontian Greeks.

The Genocide the Pontian Greeks suffered from 1914 until 1923 caused the death of  hundreds of thousands of people and after centuries of presence, the Pontian Greeks were uprooted from their land, leaving behind their churches, paternal homes and ancestors’ graves.

However, the roots of Hellenism, the homes of Pontian History dating back to thousands of years, the Greek Pontian cultural heritage did not fall into history’s oblivion, as its slayers had hoped. The Pontian Greeks survived, kept alive their traditions, morals, customs, ideals and the rich orthodox tradition, elements that define the continuance of the Greek Nation.

These are elements that constitute the identity of all our people and they do not alter through time. They shaped the conscience, the culture and the evolution of the modern Greek State.

The Genocide of the Pontian Greeks is not only a greek issue, it is a European and global issue as well. All global community must resist the oblivion that serves those who committed crimes, hence recognition of the Genocide of the Pontian Greeks from all states will indicate the respect towards the sacrifices of the Pontian Hellenism. The Treaty for the Prevention and Suppression of  Genocide Crimes approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 constitutes the guide in our effort to promote historical truth.

Men and Women of the Armed Forces,
T

oday, as far as Hellenism is concerned, is a day not only of commemoration, but an impetus for power, thinking, forging our national conscience and conveying messages for the generations to come.

All Greeks must learn from our history and be ready to face any challenge against our Nation, honoring at the same time our ancestors, to whom we owe our existence.

The Armed Forces, as guarantors of the country’s peace and independence, send a message to foes and friends, that they will not allow such crimes being repeated, against the Greek Nation. The members, the young soldiers and our national guards, faithful to the oath that they have taken to defend the Country, constitute the answer to anyone who schemes against the sanctities of our Nation.

It is also everyone’s debt to protect both the Greek monuments in Pontos and the Orthodox churches, defending first of all the Panagia Soumela monastery, the sacred icon of which is kept in the monastery of Vermion mountain and has a special meaning for the Pontian Hellenism, being an eternal symbol both of the history of Orthodoxy and our Nation.

Men and Women of the Armed Forces,

It is everyone’s duty to honor the memory of the Pontian Greeks Genocide for ever, passing it through from generation to generation, and to continue, along with the Pontian community, pushing to all directions, for the world recognition of the Pontian Greeks Genocide, resisting to History’s forgers.

May  the Almighty God and the Defender General give strength to all Pontian Greeks worldwide and throughout the Greek Nation.

May the memory of the victims of the Pontian Greeks Genocide be eternal’.