The events organized by the Municipality of Chania for the 110th anniversary of the Union of Crete with Greece, in the presence of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, have been completed.

The President herself went to the huge mast of Galanolefki on the bastion of the Firkas Fortress where raised the Greek flag under the sounds of the military band and the National Anthem sung by all the members of the Armed Forces.

“This year marks 110 years since December 1, 1913, when the blue and white flag was raised at the Firkas Fortress, sealing the union of Crete with Greece and justifying generations upon generations of Cretans who fought for this holy cause. We honor their sacrifices, we gratefully remember the leadership of Eleftherios Venizelos. With foresight and persistence, he succeeded in uniting the mega-island with the National body. Happy Birthday“, stated Mrs. Sakellaropoulou, who then took a guided tour of the Maritime Museum’s exhibits.

The President of the Republic also went to the town hall where she had a meeting with the mayor of Chania, the regional governor of Crete, the MPs of the ruling party during which she was informed – also as an honorary citizen of Chania, which she holds the title of – about the major projects in the Municipality and specifically for the reconstruction of the Municipal Market and the Venetian Youth in the Old Port of the City.

The government was represented by the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas.

Chania Member of Parliament Dora Bakoyannis referring to today’s anniversary she said: “Every year on this day we feel very proud and very moved because we have very serious reasons to know our real history. The story of a Crete that fought, many people sacrificed to be united with Greece. This is the first message, the second message is that it is good to know the struggles of Eleftherios Venizelos, the difficulties he had to achieve his final goal and how many times he had to make very difficult decisions, against the current against popular sentiment to ultimately protect the Big Idea. Happy birthday to Crete and to Greece, which acquired us”.

A landmark was characterized by regional governor of Crete Stavros Arnautakis the Union of the island with Greece, with the seal of Eleftherios Venizelos, in his declaration for the 110th historical anniversary. “December 1, 1913, is a landmark day for Chania, Crete and Greece. It is a day of remembrance and of paying due respect to those who fought to build a free country. This anniversary bears the stamp of the great Cretan politician who proved in practice what the concept of patriotism and national interest means. The importance of this historic anniversary for the Union of Crete with Greece is self-evident. It moves and motivates every Cretan, every Greek. Embodying the visions and expectations of the Cretan people, Eleftherios Venizelos personally shaped the history of the newest Greek state. We must all honor this history, drawing examples and strength from the struggles, courage and self-sacrifice of our ancestors”, says Stavros Arnautakis.

The mayor of Chania, Panagiotis Simandirakis, expressed the opinion that December 1, 1913 is a milestone that “calls us to reflect, to realize the importance of political leadership alongside the value of the will and struggles of the people” and added: “Today, at a geopolitical level, we also honor we celebrate the final resolution of the Cretan Question, let’s not forget the opportunities that were lost in the corresponding case of the Cyprus Question and much more the current tragedy of the Middle East. Therefore, the inheritance and the successes of our ancestors’ struggles should not be considered either self-evident or final. And that is why we must highlight this sacred heritage. We owe it to them but also to ourselves – to bring it to today, to draw inspiration for today’s struggles in our country and everywhere on earth, from Ukraine to the Middle East. But also in every other focus of war that tests humanity and questions human rights and the acquired values ​​of Western civilization. To stand in solidarity in every humanitarian crisis, to become an obstacle to intolerance and obscurantism and at the same time to prevent the arbitrariness of the powerful towards the weak”. By doing the above, as Mr. Simandirakis said, “…we give meaning to the struggles of our ancestors and prove in practice that we have received the high lessons of History and only in this way can we look to the future of our country with optimism”.