“I would like to congratulate the leadership, the officers, NCOs, conscripts and national guards on this exceptional parade in Athens, as well as in every city of Greece, on the day of National Regeneration, on the day when Greeks celebrate the strength and courage of the Greek people who resisted and were victorious, even when they were not respected.

I wish to assure the Greek people that our Armed Forces are ready to face any challenge against our country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We are peaceful people, we do everything for peace, but we will defeat whoever dares to question our national sovereignty, just like the Greek fighters defeated the powerful Ottoman Empire in 1821.

Those who contemplate large Ottoman empires, they should also remember 1821 and how the Greek people, united and strong, faced the empire and defeated it.

I would like to thank the Greek people for the strength they give to the Armed Forces. It is exactly this respect and confidence of the Greek people which all Greeks united confirmed today, regardless of political opinions, here, on Syntagma square, as well as in every city of this country.

I would also like to ask the political parties of our country to support the Armed Forces and let them out of any political controversy.

If the Armed Forces enjoy Greek people’s respect and confidence, they are ready to face any challenge.

The protection of the Holy Virgin and the Patron Saints of the Armed Forces, the high-level moral preparation of the army, the professionalism, the training and assets enable the Hellenic Armed Forces to ensure peace and defeat anybody who dares to provoke.

From this floor, I am asking for the support of friends and allies, on the day of national regeneration, for the immediate release of the two Greek militaries, officer and NCO, who are detained in maximum security prison in Edirne, against any principle of International Law and any principle of Democracy.

Statements alone are not enough, action is required and now we will count our friends and allies.

I want everybody to know that the Greek people are on their side. We will pursue and we will achieve their release. And Turkey should realize that maybe we keep sending messages of friendship and reconciliation, as Greek people wish, but this kind of conduct isolates it and regresses it back to where it came from, the depths of the East”.