Mitsotakis: Those who say that they only move in the dark, often get lost in it

The prime minister sent a clear message to Ankara on Thursday Kyriakos Mitsotakis from Kalpaki of Ioannina, speaking at the events for the celebration of the National Anniversary of October 28. As he pointed out, “no one anywhere believes that Turkey is in danger from the Greek islands. On the contrary, the fact that she is plotting the sovereignty of Greece is what she, unfortunately, keeps saying.”

Mr. Mitsotakis underlined that “Greece’s positions are stable: on aggression we oppose preparedness. Our arguments are based on International Law and the Law of the Sea. And of course our defense vigilance and diplomatic shielding offered by our strong alliances. All this, in fact, with the composure of the one who is right on his side.”

“For those who say that they only move in the dark, often get lost in it” he noted, recalling what happened to Italy in ’40.

Especially, as he said, Russia is projecting an authoritarian act as a model for imitating other disturbances, possibly here in our neighborhood. This is why Ukraine concerns us, and why on its plains similar battles are being fought to those of 1940 in the mountains of Ioannina and why “NO” is our national position against any suggestion.

Especially when it comes from countries that, the more they raise their rhetoric, the more they sink into their own isolation. As I said, however, these three letters respond only to those who threaten and do not provoke but invite to the path of legitimacy, the path of peace. That is why the other side of the Greek “NO” is “YES” to stability and cooperation”.

“Bad lies, no one anywhere believes that Turkey is in danger from the Greek islands. On the contrary, the fact that she is plotting the sovereignty of Greece is, unfortunately, constantly being preached by herself. From our side, therefore, our positions are firm: we oppose aggression to readiness. Our arguments are based on International Law and the Law of the Sea. And of course our defense vigilance and diplomatic shielding offered by our strong alliances. All this, in fact, with the composure of one who is right on his side. With the self-confidence of a patriot and above all acting openly in the light of truth and day. Because those who shout that they only move in the dark, often get lost in it,” he said.

“And yet, the wind of patriotic unity of the 1940s carried away differences and mistakes, bringing all Greeks side by side in the trenches against the Italians, then in the epic of national resistance, only to be divided again by the civil war. Among the others, therefore, Kalpaki stands out as a place where the victorious national reconciliation emerges in practice. This “NO” that is engraved on the slope of the Prophet Elias comes from afar and goes far, accompanying our History”, he emphasized.

And he added: “Thus, today, it addresses another invader, Russia, which violates International Law, the inviolability of borders and the independence of Ukraine. And so it lights a double fire in Europe, causing blood on the fronts with weapons and seeking instability in Western societies with a lever of precision.

And he emphasized: “And don’t forget that here in Kalpaki, in the middle of the night and before dawn the Italians came, to be answered, as they should, first by the Epirotians and the Greeks and then by History itself. “No idea, nothing at all about retreating. We will all fight for our positions and if necessary we will fall defending them”, read Katsimitro’s last order.

And that’s how it happened. The Greeks did not retreat, but advanced, just as the tradition of this place wants and it is a debt of our own generation to the generation that fought in the 1940s, it is also the generation of my father, Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

This generation that gave us a free and prosperous Greece to honor and remember, to that lost lieutenant for whom the heroic and mournful Song will always mourn with the proud voice of Elytis, “the mountains of Albania thundered, not they cried, why should they cry? He was a brave child.”

But I am here, Mr. Mayor, because, as you said, we must all fight so that Kalpaki does not remain just a simple memory, but an eternal and active memory. And that is why we should see immediately, launch those actions to create the History Park, but mainly – as you said – to erect a cenotaph here, at the foot of the Fighter’s Monument, where the almost 14,000 names of Greek soldiers who fell in the war of ’40 – ’41.

It is a debt of the present to the past, which also stands as a pillar of our future. From there, then, I will answer with just one word to close my greeting. A simple word, but which condenses the individual and collective determination of the moment, the quintessence of freedom, but ultimately also the perspective of the country’s progress.

A slogan that resonated, resonates and will always resonate in these mountains: “Air”. To call us to march together and with self-confidence, with faith in the heroic yesterday, with a plan and appetite for work in today, with optimism and hope for tomorrow, with confidence, with continuity, with consistency. Thank you very much”.

The events in Kalpaki

The Prime Minister attended the memorial service, laid a wreath at the Fighter’s Memorial and lit a candle in honor of the 167 fallen soldiers, whose remains are kept in the Memorial’s ossuary.

Afterwards, Kyriakos Mitsotakis watched the reenactment of the Battle of Kalpakios.

“I feel sincerely moved to be with you today in this place watered by History, in the footsteps of King Pyrrhus, on his way to Rome, but also opposite the summits that 82 years ago “NO” to fascism and the foreign invader was written in blood and triumph”, said Mr. Mitsotakis in his first words in a short greeting.

“Here, the forces of freedom achieved their first victory against the Axis. Kalpaki is therefore a symbol that transcends borders and times, emitting from Greece global values ​​that are not imprisoned in the past, but on the contrary are continuously renewed over time”, Mr. Mitsotakis continued.

He added: “Mr. Mayor, we are all very happy that this year Kalpakia is returning after the restrictions of the pandemic. We will honor the soldiers of the 8th Division who in October 1940 fought – in these mountains – the first battles, holding and repelling the persistent attacks of Mussolini’s army, but at the same time forming a unique a paragon of martial virtue and readiness, unwavering patriotism and faith in freedom. Above all, however, a model of national unity and collective action.

Because it may be that the shrewdness and manipulations of General Katsimitros, who even insisted that the first resistance be manifested here, finally brought victory, but all the previous months the Epirotians had taken care to fortify the area under the guidance of Colonel Mavroyiannis.

Others, far more expert than I, have, of course, spoken at greater length about the martial miracle recorded on these very grounds. I personally choose to highlight the driving force that is also the source of every miracle of Hellenism. The love, that is, for our national independence, which unites the people and the armed forces, but also unites the citizens among us.

Because this is a condition of our common prosperity. In front of her every other difference shrinks. And when it is threatened, Greek men and women unite and flourish. This is exactly what happened here 82 years ago.”

The prime minister underlined that it is no coincidence that in these places, since the troubled decades of the 20s and 30s, a disciplinary ulama of armed criminal and political prisoners, a sign of the division and authoritarianism of that time.

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