Greece does not discount issues of national sovereignty and dignity, says Theodorikakos

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The Minister of Citizen Protection attended the annual memorial service for the hero of Imia Panagiotis Vlachakos as a representative of the Government and the Prime Minister

The need for unity to ensure national sovereignty and security was pointed out by the Minister of Citizen Protection Mr. Takis Theodorikakos in the greeting he addressed at the annual memorial service for the hero of Imia Panagiotis Vlachakos, which was organized again this year by Municipality of Piraeus.

Mr. Theodorikakos, who attended as a representative of the Government and the Prime Minister who is in Japan, emphasized that Greece does not and will not make concessions in matters of national sovereignty and dignity. And through the preservation of the unity of the Greeks, we must fight to make the sacrifice of the three heroes of Imia a reality. “The division and introversion, which they are motivated by, do not express disagreements for the present, but irresponsibility for tomorrow”, said the Minister of Citizen Protection and called on all Greeks to work together with unity and determination. “To further strengthen our Homeland, its power, its perspective, the self-confidence of all of us in the future. To hand over to our children a Greece with a glorious history, but also a glorious present and future”.

Referring to the night of Imia, Mr. Theodorikakos noted that “in that night, the features of the historical course of our nation were concentrated in such a dramatic way. The love for the country as the highest value of life, the absolute sense of duty, self-sacrifice for Greece”. This, as he said, was done that night by the three heroes of Imia Panagiotis Vlahakos, Christodoulos Karathanasis and Hector Gialopsos. “Their guide was the invisible thread of heroism and glory, which permeates our History, ensuring to the Nation their continuity and progress in the future. We must learn lessons from our history. In a difficult situation, these are a compass and a condition for optimism for the future.”

In detail, the greeting of the Minister of Citizen Protection Mr. Takis Theodorikakos:

“Today we honor the memory of Vice-Admiral Panagiotis Vlahakos and of course Christodoulou Karathanasis and Hector Gialopsos. Three heroes of modern Greece.

The events of January 31, 1996 are a tragic memory for every Greek. In that night, the features of our nation’s historical course were condensed in such a dramatic way.

The love for the country as the highest value of life, the absolute sense of duty, the self-sacrifice for Greece. Greece that has learned to navigate wild and threatening waves over the centuries. Who constantly faces threat and trickery. Greece that does not and will never make concessions on issues of national sovereignty and dignity.

Who has taught humanity many times that the strength of the soul and the devotion to the country can overcome numerous opponents and that every generation of Greeks can at any time and at any cost take on their shoulders the heavy burden of defending the country, when called upon by history to do so.

This is what the 3 heroes of Imia did. This is what Panagiotis Vlahakos did. In their helicopter headed for Imia.

They had with them self-denial, supreme love for Greece. Their guide was the invisible thread of heroism and glory, which permeates our History, assuring the Nation of their continuity and progress in the future. We must learn lessons from our history. In a difficult situation, these are a compass and a condition of optimism for the future.

The most important thing: when we talk about national security and national sovereignty, we must all be absolutely united. The divisiveness and introversion that they fuel do not express disagreements about the present, but irresponsibility for tomorrow.

Our history is full of red lines. Written by the blood of heroes. From September 2022, Panagiotis Vlahakos is again the guardian of the Aegean. The new Navy missile ship bears his name and sails in the blue waters of the Aegean, vigilant guardian of our borders. In this way, the State decided to honor in the most emblematic way, the memory of the man who honored it and gave his life for it.

We must strive every day to make the meaning of their sacrifice a reality. Not only of Panagiotis, but also of Christodoulos, Hector and all the Greeks throughout the centuries, who at some point in their lives accepted the historical call of our national destiny to give their blood for it.

For this reason, let all Greeks work together with unity and determination. To further strengthen our Homeland, its power, its perspective, the self-confidence of all of us in the future. To hand over to our children a Greece with a glorious history, but also a glorious present and future.

Immortal!”

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