“The European Union was created in the first place, so that war would not happen again, so that the peoples of Europe could live in peace, with respect for each other. We want a Europe of the solidarity of the peoples and not a Europe of the Franco-German Axis. For this, we must to participate in all democratic processes, so that we determine our future and not others the future of you and your children”, said the president of PASOK Nikos Androulakis from Ramni Apokoronou where he participated in an event honoring and commemorating the heroes and fallen during the period 1941 – 1945, testifying at the same time and honoring the Hero commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 14th Regiment of ELAS Dimitrios Michelogiannis who became a legend in the Battle of Panagia in Keramia, Chania.

Mr. Androulakis speaking to the representatives of the Local Government of the Region, members of the Heroes’ families and residents of Apokoronas said that: “The Cretan people were victims of the attack, victims of revenge and between the attack and the revenge there was resistance. That is why the Germans took revenge in the most violent, brutal way on Crete, Apokoronas and other villages such as Anogeia and Vianno, because this people did not bow down and resisted the attack, as in all the years of the occupation, with national dignity and pride. Families were organized in the national resistance and we, every year, in these events in Crete and in other parts of Greece, keep the memory alive. our traditions. So we resist and keep the memory alive so that it can be passed on to the next generations.”

The president of PASOK, marking his and PASOK’s staff, said: “We are not politically neutral, but our actions are what define us nationally, patriotically, and ideologically. That is why I have as a compass the respect for the struggles of the Greek people against Nazism , we didn’t think for a second to take the initiative to submit a memorandum 15 months ago, so that the praisers of Nazism and Hitler, the remnants of the Golden Dawn, would not participate in the elections, and indeed the memorandum was accepted”. He even mentioned that today he learned that a few hours ago “…the Socialist Party, co-signed by the European Left, the Liberals and the Greens, took the initiative, so that there would be no cooperation after the June 9th day of the European elections, with the extreme right at the level European Parliament. Unfortunately, this initiative was not co-signed by the European People’s Party”.

Speaking about the resistance of the Cretans and the villages of Apokoronas, the mayor Charalambos Koukianakis emphasized that: “The impossible can become possible, the fight for freedom in this place has never had limits, the limits existed only to be overcome”. As he recalled from the event in Ramni: “The last phase of the Battle of Crete took place in the area of ​​the province of Apokoronas, from Megala Horafia to Krapi. his own heroes, who fought with heroism and vigor for the homeland, just like Dimitrios Michelogiannis who became a legend in the battle of Panagia in Keramia in November 1944 as the commander of the 2nd battalion of the 14th regiment of ELAS.

The government was represented by the Member of Parliament of Chania, Alexandros Markogiannakis, who spoke of everyone’s responsibility to preserve history and not to forget the struggles of the heroes of the Battle of Crete and the resistance against the German Nazis “83 years later, at the national resistance monument here in In Ramni, we honor all those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy the supreme good of peace and democracy. We all, older and younger, must remember all these sacrifices against the incredible atrocities of Nazism. Here in Ramni, everyone gave a great common battle and the result of this small mountain village became known and recorded by history for the contribution of the inhabitants of Ramni to the battle of Crete and the course of Nazism on the island.It is important, as every year we must be present, giving and showing respect for the sacrifice and struggles, to the heroes who fell and fought for the Battle of Crete”.

The deputy governor of Chania, Nikolaos Kalogeris, spoke about Ramni, a small but such an important village where “… that wrote history with the universal participation of the world in this fight. We also honor the special figure of Colonel Dimitris Michelogiannis, who is the head of an ELAS battalion bore the brunt of the first day of the great battle that took place in Panagia. The inhabitants of the village of Ramni lived through the horror of the virtual execution in May 44 less than a month before the end and the conqueror still carried out such terrifying manifestations of hatred. We honor their memory so that the younger ones learn this whole story and that nothing is conquered without effort and without blood.”

In the context of the event and on the occasion of the hanging of banners against the ultra-high voltage pylons in the countryside and mountains of Apokoronas, the mayor Charalambos Koukianakis said, addressing Mr. Androulakis and the officials, that there must be resistance “…in whatever form and if there is danger. The love for the richness of our tradition, the euphoria of our place, and the beauty of nature, make up the culture of Apokoronas. This heritage we are called to protect, that is why we call on everyone to help fight that we have started in the last months for the protection of our land”.

The mayor of Apokoronas said that at this time “…the enemy for our land is different than the one our ancestors were called to face. Today the destruction of Apokoronos is being attempted through monstrous pillars which are planned to cross along the entire Apokoronas causing irreparable environmental damage, to the health and economic activity of the inhabitants, evacuation of our villages, this time not through aerial operations of paratroopers but through aerial power cables, in the context of operations which, on the altar of short-term profit, sacrifice the environment and the lives of the people… We who honor the values ​​and traditions of our country, today honor our heroic ancestors, we say that they are our beacon and we promise them, borrowing the phrase from the book of Lefteris Iliakis from Nerohori that, we will not stand by the side of the road, but we will be on the road and wherever else necessary to protect the land that was handed down to us, to pass it on in turn unscathed to future generations.”

The president of PASOK, wanting not to avoid – as he said – talking about the issue of the pillars because he does not like to evade said that: “It is not possible to do such big projects without consultation. Let’s start with the primary issues, the 36 billion fund recovery, no discussion with the region or municipalities. So when you don’t discuss these big European packages with the local government, with the chambers, what do some people say? Let’s not discuss the individual ones… Because the issue of the cable for them is individual while for you it is of vital importance. millions of other people. Not interested in this company, for the different point of view”.

The president of PASOK described the interconnection of Crete as very important, saying: “…it is a strategic choice for the economy of Crete. But for whom is it a strategic choice for the big economic interests. What will they do? Big wind farms, big photovoltaic plants Europe is heading elsewhere, to the small parks which means that these cables should serve the fair green transition and that farmers, cooperatives, processors, municipalities should get the connection conditions as a priority, as Germany, Portugal, Spain, so that there is a low fixed cost… So we are talking about another policy, the one that is needed for this project to be done in an environmentally friendly way as well as the municipalities. Not only the oligarchs because this is unfair not only for the place, but also for the whole country”.