On Wednesday 13 May 2026, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, attended the commemorative event in honour of the Fallen Muslim Greeks during World War II, which took place at the local community of Oreo of the Municipality of Myki, Xanthi.
The Minister laid a wreath at the monument of Fallen Muslims of the local community and attended the recital of texts and songs by the students of the Minority Elementary School of Oreo.
The event was also attended by MPs Stavros Tsiligiris and Burhan Baran, the Deputy Head of Region for Xanthi Ms. Vasiliki Pavlakaki, the Mayor of Myki Mr. Ahmet Kürt, the President of the local community of Oreo Husein Kiratzi and the members of its Council, representatives of the Security Forces, the Retired Army Officers Club, local institutions, and residents of the community.
On behalf of the Armed Forces, the event was attended by the Commanding General of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, Lieutenant General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos, the Deputy Commanding General of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, Major General Georgios Vasios, and the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace, Major General Thomas Gerasimou.
In his address, Mr. Dendias stated:
“I would like to begin by saying that it is a great pleasure and honour for me to be here in Oreo, in Thrace.
At an honorary event that the Hellenic State, Greece, pays due respects where necessary. It fulfils a duty towards Muslim Greek citizens, who, during World War II, were called upon to leave Thrace, in order to defend our country and who responded to their patriotic duty.
They responded in the manner that all armed Greek citizens always do, when their duty towards State and Country calls them. Unconditionally. Without delay. Without doubt.
World War II, the conclusion of which we celebrated just a few days ago, was one of the darkest trials humanity has faced up until today.
However, for us Greeks it was simultaneously a great trial. As you know, a great percentage of the Greek population was lost during that war, either during conflicts, or to hardships during enemy occupation.
Nevertheless, we managed to prove that a people, a nation, can deny surrendering unconditionally, so long as they defend something they believe in, when facing superior forces and even when defeat due to the enemy’s superiority in numbers is unavoidable. To defend what is just, to defend its dignity, to defend its freedom, to defend its sovereignty.
In this national effort, ladies and gentlemen, there are no categories of citizens. There are no first-, second- or third-class citizens. There are only Greek citizens.
Greek citizens who were sent to face the conqueror as armed citizens, something which naturally led to mourning families. Something that led to mourning communities, such as here in Oreo. Just like many other communities in Thrace.
Today, we honour those who lost their lives defending the Hellenic State, namely, the independent right of the Greek people to shape their future as they desire, as an indivisible part of our overall memory and tradition.
Ladies and gentlemen – I have said it many times – Thrace is a meeting point. A crossroads of civilisations. A bridge. A bright bridge between Europe and the East.
It is a place where the notion of Country has a different meaning. It is a place that has faced occupation, destruction, and has always been reborn. A place that has seen persecution and tragedy, but remained unified and thriving. The Muslim Greek minority is an indivisible part of the character of this particular region. An indivisible, valuable part – is what I mean – of the very identity of Greece.
A European country, the national cohesion of which is not created through exclusions. It is created and built on inclusion, equity, recognition, and trust. With the certainty that whoever served this Country, let alone whoever fell for this Country, unreservedly belongs in its embrace and tradition.
And this is exactly what the memory of those brave people whom we honour today proves. This way, we prove once again, that Thrace is the great example of harmonious coexistence, not just for Greece, but also for Europe, our broader region, and, I dare say, for our world.
The Hellenic Republic is capable of recognising the sacrifices of its citizens. After all, it has a duty to do so, regardless of the religion, language, everyday life, and beliefs or traditions of each individual.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the Armed Forces of our Country, the sacrifice of citizens has a unified, indivisible meaning. We honoured it recently after all, with the excellent artistic monument of Kostas Varotsos, which now adorns the grounds of the Ministry of National Defence.
Greece always underlines the duty of freedom. I would like to address the descendants of the fallen in a special manner and tell them that the State – as represented by the Minister of National Defence – respects and recognises them fully.
Their people, the men whose memory we honour today, are Heroes of the Country and that is why they will never be forgotten by the Hellenic State. Their sacrifice has been written down in the great narrative of national memory, national struggles, National Resistance, and the effort of our Country to maintain its freedom through time.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We live in times that do not allow for complacency. The dream of a peaceful humanity did not survive. The 21st century is proving to be a century of conflict, revisionism, hybrid threats, border change attempts, and violence.
And in exactly this dystopic environment, the sacrifice of those we honour today teaches us that maintaining our freedom is a responsibility that all of us share. There is a phrase that I recall every time I think about the relationship between the sacrifice of the fallen and the responsibility of the survivors. Ladies and gentlemen, the dead cannot speak up for themselves. However, we can speak on their behalf.
And we can speak in the clearest of manners, through our will to remain faithful and united towards the values that they defended with their lives. United in order to protect Freedom, Democracy, and human dignity. To protect the International Law, the equality of citizens towards the State. And ultimately – as everyone should always conclude – to protect the faith in the potential of Hellenism.
May the memory of those who fell for the Country live forever. May the memory of our fellow Muslim citizens who sacrificed their lives for the Country live forever. May the memory of all those who fell for us to be here today live forever.
Thank you very much”.
