On Saturday, 04 October 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, representing the Prime Minister, attended the festivities in Xanthi for the 106th Anniversary of the Liberation of the city.
Mr. Dendias, accompanied by the Chief/HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, attended the Doxology at the Metropolitan Church of John the Baptist, officiated by the Reverend Metropolitan of Xanthi and Peritheorio Panteleimon.
Then, he went to the Memorial of Xanthi, where he attended the memorial service and laid a wreath.
Following, the Minister of National Defence attended the military and student parade, in which cultural and volunteer organisations also participated, along with associations.
The parade was also attended by the President of NIKI Party Dimitris Natsios, the MPs Spyridon Tsiligiris, Husein Zeibek, Burhan Baran, Mihail Hourdakis, the Head of the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Christodoulos Topsidis and the Mayor of Xanthi Efstratios Kontos.
The parade was also reviewed by: the Reverend Metropolitan of Maronia and Komotini Panteleimon, the Reverend Metropolitan of Samos and Ikaria Efsevios, the Theophilestatos Bishop of Polystylo Sofronios, the Protosyngel of the Holy Church of Xanthi and Peritheorio, the Most Wise Governor Mufti of Xanthi Nezden Hemseri, the Secretary of the Decentralised Administration of Macedonia and Thrace Dimitrios Galamatis, the Director of the Service of Political Affairs of Xanthi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Counsellor of Embassy A Stavroula Pentarvani, the Commanding General of the Supreme Military Command of Thrace Lieutenant General Panagiotis Kavidopoulos, the Dean of Dimokreitio University of Thrace Professor Fotios Maris, the Deputy Governor of Xanthi of the Regional District of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Polyxeni Brika, the president of the Armenian Community of Xanthi Takvor Karaoglanian, representatives of Parties, Mayors of adjacent Municipalities, representatives of Security Forces and Local Self-Administration, Officers and NCOs of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Retired and Reserve Officers Unions, the Hellenic Red Cross, productive agencies, associations and civilians.
In his address Mr. Dendias stated:
“It is a great joy and honour to be here today, for a second consecutive year, in Xanthi, to honour the 106th anniversary of its Liberation.
Xanthi, as you know, is of special importance to the Armed Forces. It hosts the headquarters of the recently established Supreme Military Command of Thrace, in the context of the new advanced Structure of Forces. The institutional name however, mainly projects the strategic role of this region regarding the deterrent architecture of our Country’s Armed Forces.
On 4 October 1919, the Greek Army sealed with its presence the end of a long period of slavery and suppression.
It marked an important moment during which the anticipation for centuries of Freedom became historic reality. This justification was not born out of coincidences, but it was based on the historic tolerance of the people of Thrace, that kept their language, identity and faith alive.
I have repeatedly said that the identity elements of New Greece are completely known: Homeland-Language-Traditions-Religion-Family.
Thrace remains even today, in the 21st century, a crossroad of cultures, a bridge between Europe and the wider East. A fortress for our Country, a pillar for our national continuity, a place that was tested and maintained its identity intact. But Thrace is also an area of special interest for the following reasons.
Because here, in Thrace, the Muslim minority is an integral part of the identity of this region. The presence itself, not to mention the peak of the Muslim minority, projects the power of Hellenism that can progress with cosmopolitanism, as is its tradition through the thousands of years of its history, with respect, egalitarianism, social coherence. This message is very important in times of geopolitical tensions, international upheavals.
Our Country, Greece, proceeds with a clear strategy. It honours the past, but our obligation is to plan the future as well.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of National Defence and I think all the Greeks, with the “Agenda 2030” as a road map, with the new Structure of Forces, with the transformations, with the introduction of state-of-the-art technologies, with the reinforcement of our deterrent power, we are building the most combat-worthy forces we ever had, guaranteeing the security of the Country, of every Greek woman and man.
In the times we live in, innovation constitutes a fundamental component of our strategic path. It constitutes a necessary factor for our survival.
In a few days, in the parade of the 28th October, the Greek people will witness the first imprint of its Armed Forces in the new era.
In this direction the new Omnibus Bill for the Armed Forces is incorporated, which I presented a few days ago to the Ministerial Council and will be discussed in the next days at the Parliament. A cohesive framework, a big, deep intersection, a change, a transformation of historic nature, because it concerns all aspects: the Wages, the Ranking, the Career, the Service, the Reserve, the Upgrade of the NCOs Military Schools, the Voluntary Service of Women. It is the capping-stone of the effort of all of us to render the Army worthy of the history and the sacrifices of our ancestors, who allowed us to enjoy freedom today.
It is proved by our presence here that the sacrifices of our ancestors were not in vain. Freedom does not only concern the memory of a historic event of the past, it also concerns the hope of a better tomorrow, for which though we must fight every day, to secure it with consistency, determination, a spirit for innovation and changes, wherever required.
This is the collective horizon of Hellenism. This is our historic debt, our debt towards Thrace, and Greece; our debt to our ancestors.
Thank you”.
