Trade on the occasion of the Memorial Day for the Pontian Genocide honored today are being held at the center of Thessaloniki at the center of Thessaloniki members of the Pampontian Federation of Greece as well as Pontian associations from various parts of the country.

The march started from Agia Sophia Square and is expected to end up at the Turkish consulate on Agios Dimitrios Street.

Earlier, a memorial service was held in memory of the victims as well as laying wreaths of a Pontic Hellenism Genocide Monument in Hagia Sophia Square, and a minute’s silence was observed for the 353,000 dead of the Pontian Genocide.

Pontian dancers under the sounds of Pontian lyre danced Serra, the Pontian Pyrrhus dance with the audience to applaud them.

The keynote speaker at the event at Agia Sophia Square was the political scientist/ internationalist – president of the France of Cyprus and the Federation of Cypriot Europe, Evagoras Mavrommatis.

In his speech, he stressed that the struggle for international recognition of the genocide of the Greeks of Pontus and the other genocides that Turkey has committed continues. “Only an international sincere apology like Turkey’s to Israel can pave the way for this to happen again.” He also stressed that Hellenism should never forget the beast of the Turks “who consider their father the most heinous slaughter”.

“We remember the point is to remember others. We will never forget the ruthless massacres, “Mr Mavrommatis said.

“We have a duty to go for Hellenism not to experience other genocides other uproar. The detainees have been unworthy of the time to restore Pontians who were uprooted, “Mr Mavrommatis said.

On the sidelines of the event, the Deputy Minister of Interior, responsible for Macedonia-Thrace, Costas Gioulekas, stressed, inter alia, that “until all states recognize this crime we will gather here we cannot forget. Hellenism mourns mourning all these years and will continue to do it ”while referring to the atrocities suffered by the Greeks of Pontus.

The “organized crime of extermination of the Greeks of Pontus” was spoken by the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Athina Aidona. “It was genocide and this word must be heard clear and without hesitation,” he also stressed, saying that “memory is sacred.”

“106 years after 353 thousand souls continue to seek justification,” Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis said in his position, stressing that the struggle is continuing for international recognition of the Pontian Genocide. “We must send a non -negotiable message here from the capital of Macedonia. When Turkish revisionism beats Hellenism – and often does it recently – the answer must be a constant struggle and unity of the people. Until the final justification, “Mr. Angeloudis also noted.