Anniversary Ceremony and Closing Ceremony of the First World War – Kalafatis: “We bow to those who gave their lives” |

Wreaths were laid at the Allied Military Cemetery of the Allied Forces (Zeitenlik) in Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki, and the national anthems of the countries involved were celebrated. Stavrou Kalafatis, Deputy Minister of Labor of Serbia Zoran Antic, diplomats and military followers of other countries.

Earlier, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic laid a wreath at the monument to the Serbian sector.

The ceremony was held with the laying of wreaths, a minute of silence in memory of the fallen and the rejection of national anthems, Greek and other countries involved, in the presence of Greek and foreign officials, respectively, in Serbian, Russian, Italian, British, the French and the Greek sector of the military allied cemeteries, while the national anthems of Greece and other foreign countries were heard by the military band, which took part either on one side or the other, in the First World War.

“Today we bow to those who gave their lives to be free today, so that today our homeland and the whole free world can enjoy the goods of democracy and freedom,” said Mr. Kalafatis after the ceremony. He added: “We honor, remember and teach from the past. At the same time, we are moving towards a common European future. Determined to play a leading role in Europe’s strategic autonomy, but also to strengthen our geopolitical position and strengthen the country’s defense capacity. “Determined to protect our sovereignty and our sovereign rights, as needed, whenever necessary.”

In her speech at the Greek monument of the allied cemeteries, the vice-governor of the metropolitan unit of Thessaloniki of the Region of Central Macedonia, Voula Patoulidou underlined the active participation of the Greek forces, on the side of Entente against the Central Empires, the on May 30, 1918, in the final attack of the Entente forces and the disintegration of the rival front in September of the same year, as well as in the words of praise of the commander-in-chief of the Balkan Front, Louis Franchet d’Esperey for the bravery of the Greek fighters.

He also referred to the conclusions that emerge from the First World War and the assumption that in every war both the winner and the loser count losses and wounds, as the blood tax of young people is heavy.

“Young people, who are not over thirty years old, a few a little older, people who were found fighting in foreign lands away from their homes and families. Zeidelik should be a mandatory place to visit schools “, underlined Ms. Patoulidou and added:” Macabre, but educational. It was the First World War, the war that changed everything. Territorially, Greece won. In war, however, death and destruction are the same, whether you are a winner or a loser… Greek history has many stages, with the Greeks showing zeal, bravery and proverbial momentum, we paid for it with blood … “.

The events were also attended by the Consuls General of France, Germany, Russia and Cyprus, the Honorary Consuls of the United Kingdom, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Canada and Vietnam, and his envoy. of the Bulgarian consulate, the commander of the 3rd SS, the mayors of Ampelokipi- Menemeni Lazaros Kyrizoglou and Oreokastro Pantelis Tsakiris, the president of the municipal council of Thessaloniki Petros Lekakis, representative of the mayor of Neapolis of the Metropolitan of Neapolis-Stavroupolis, of the Greek Police and the Coast Guard, of the Union of Apostates, military followers of the foreign delegations, etc.