The Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, attended on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 October 2021 the festivities on the occasion of the Anniversary for the Liberation of Eleftheroupoli, the region of Pangaio and Thasos island.

During the festivities in Thasos, the Minister attended the Doxology at the Holy Church of Saint Nikolaos at Thasos Harbour, where the panegyric was delivered. Then, he attended the Memorial Service that was held at the War Memorial for the Fallen; he laid a wreath and attended the parade.

After the end of the festivities, Mr. Panagiotopoulos made the following statement:

“With much anticipation I awaited my visit to Thasos, in order to celebrate today the 109th Anniversary of its liberation. A short while ago, we attended a little let alone beautiful parade and we felt proud of Thasos’ youth, as well as of a section of the National Guard that honored the Anniversary with a humble heart and celebrated parading.

On this day 109 years ago, two Battleships and two Destroyers of the Hellenic Navy – that was ruling the Aegean sea at that time – sailed over to the island and liberated it from the yoke of the Ottomans without resistance; but on the contrary, in an atmosphere of excitement evidenced on the part of its Greek people. This was the time when the Navy was dominating and defeating every threatener, every enemy in the region. This was the time when Greece, having leadership, high spirits and powerful Armed Forces, was developing, spreading, multiplying its territories, its sovereignty and its influence.

Today, as then, the Fight is still based on the same axes in general. On one hand, a sustained effort so that Greece would increase its influence, developing and extending its alliances in the region and on the other hand, a constant and intensive struggle to strengthen the country’s Armed Forces, by upgrading its systems, but also by acquiring new ones, such as the recently agreed upon aircrafts and vessels. When the country’s Armed Forces are powerful, then Greece is powerful since it has deterrent effect. Everybody understands that.

My best wishes to beautiful and beloved Thasos for the day that we enjoyed today. My best wishes to Macedonia, because yesterday we commemorated the Macedonian Struggle; and one important detail in History is that the first interim Commander of Liberated Thasos was Konstantinos Melas, brother of Pavlos Melas – the symbol of the Macedonian Struggle – who awakened the rest of Greece as well with his sacrifice in the land of Macedonia.

Long live Thasos!

Long live Macedonia!

Long live Greece!”.

On the occasion of the festivities for the Liberation of Eleftheroupoli and the region of Pangaio, the Minister of National Defence attended yesterday the Doxology held at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Nikolaos in Eleftheroupoli. Moreover, he attended the Memorial Service and laid a wreath at the War Memorial in the Municipality Park in memory of all those who had fallen heroically for the Country.