“March 25th is the pinnacle of our recent history. A date of national pride and vindication, when our ancestors, on the day of the Annunciation of the Virgin, rose up after 400 years of slavery to shake off the Ottoman yoke, laying the foundations of the creation of the modern Greek state. A celebration of all Greeks, who will always draw from the bed of the 21st the idea of ​​freedom, independence, justice”.

This is underlined by the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou in her message today, on the occasion of the national holiday of March 25. “Today is a day of exaltation, remembrance and responsibility, it invites us to delve deeper into the great event of the Greek Palegenesis, which had won the admiration of the whole world, to understand its importance and to reflect on its timeless lesson: passion and self-sacrifice are the the yeast of every national effort, but the guarantee for its success is like-mindedness, unity and sympathy, as testified by the Herculean struggle given by the heroic revolutionaries against a mighty empire”, emphasizes the PtD.

As Ms. Sakellaropoulou points out, “this year is a special year for our country, as it marks 50 years since the restoration of the Republic. In half this century, Greece became a member and consolidated its presence at the heart of the European Union, confirming its position among its partners and allies and becoming a guarantor of security and peace in the eastern Mediterranean and the wider region. A conquest that we have achieved, despite the difficulties, remaining committed to the universal values ​​of Hellenism”.

“However, we never forget the pain of sister Cyprus, as a part of it remains, for the same period of time, under Turkish occupation, an impermissible situation in violation of all international legality, which hurts us deeply. We will continue, in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, to fight for a fair and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of international law, the Resolutions of the UN Security Council and EU authorities”, added Ms. Sakellaropoulou.

In closing, Ms. Sakellaropoulou states: “We live in a world of different and many speeds, generalized uncertainty, successive crises, wars, in an environment of divisive discourse, strengthening of totalitarianism and the rise of intolerant perceptions. The challenge facing our country today is to defend, with the contribution of all of us, the ideals of freedom, human rights and democracy, which we have ensured with efforts and sacrifices in our long existence, as well as our non-negotiable national sovereignty. Let the collective bond that unites us in a common vision be our driving force towards a future worthy of our ancestors.
Happy Birthday!