“Today, here, in Thessaloniki, in an atmosphere of pride, I awarded the swords to the graduates of the Military Academy of Corps Officers. The swords are symbols of honour and sacrifice for these young people who decided to join the Hellenic Armed Forces.
Wishing them to be healthy and strong, I would like to stress how important it is at these difficult times for our country to keep our morale high, to reinforce our courage, to form an environment of unity, solidarity and togetherness among all Greeks. And this is the message that our country’s Armed Forces always send.
A message about our country’s security and integrity, about defending the supreme and noble values we inherited from our history, about defending our country’s integrity and independence, yet our very democracy.”
REPORTER: Minister, as far as the parade is concerned, would you like to say a few words? About the tanks…
D.AVRAMOPOULOS: Parades must be conducted with the glory and honour that these great moments we celebrate in our country are worth of. Without any misery, but with a high sense of pride, strengthening the morale of the Greek people and of the Hellenic Armed Forces as well.
This city, the historical city of Thessaloniki deserves to live such moments. And the decision I made this year, to conduct this parade as it is appropriate to this historical anniversary, the city of Thessaloniki itself, the Hellenic Armed Forces and as a response to a deeper feeling of the Greek people, is a decision which was embraced largely by the Greek people.
And I am certain that the citizens of Thessaloniki not only accepted it gladly, but, by attending it massively, they will send their own message to us all, to the politicians of the country and to the Greek society.
That we altogether must struggle to overcome these difficulties, in a spirit of togetherness and with a strong national morale, and help our country regain its perspective, its orientation and its pace to move forward.
The Hellenic Armed Forces is a place where we find another Greece; the Greece of honour, values, pride. So, on Monday, in Thessaloniki we will live beautiful moments which will remind us of our history and will show us our way to the future.”