The military parade on March 25 for Greek Independence Day was magnificent and included the maiden flight of the French-made Rafale fighter jets over the Athenian sky.
The flights of the F-16 Vipers and Apache helicopters over the Greek capital were also impressive, while the "premiere" of the Marder 1A3 armored fighting vehicles also caught the eye. The vehicles were received last October as part of a relevant agreement between Greece and Germany.
At the same time, as every year, the parade of the evzones stood out with the chilling tapping of their feet.
The message of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the end of the parade
"This year's celebration of national independence and the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is being held in the shadow of a great tragedy. This makes the essential historical reflection even more necessary," pointing out at the same time that national independence is a necessary condition for social cohesion and progress.
Referring to the need for reflection, the Prime Minister said that it consists in "how we can be inspired by the triumphs of our nation, how we can learn from the tragedies in this long course of continuous progress of the Greek state, the Greek nation, the Greek people".
Mitsotakis also noted that today is also a celebration for our Armed Forces, "for the women and men who marched holding the flag high, emitting a feeling of national pride."
He also referred to the "necessary need for national independence and security," adding that "we must never forget that the important resources allocated to national defence for planes, tanks and ships, come from the Greek people."
"But they are absolutely necessary to preserve our national independence, which is a condition for social progress and social cohesion. Congratulations to all Greek women and men," the prime minister concluded.
The statement of the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou after the parade
March 25, 1821 is a milestone for Hellenism. A historical starting point of a difficult and long struggle for freedom and independence, after four hundred years under the Turkish yoke, a day of national rebirth and upliftment.
With today's brilliant parade we honour the memory of our heroic ancestors and reflect on our responsibility towards history. It is our duty, with sympathy and like-mindedness, to show ourselves worthy of their sacrifices.
Congratulations!
Messages from state leaders and embassies
State leaders and embassies continued to send congratulatory messages on Saturday, Greek Independence Day, which celebrates Greece's declaration of the war for independence from Ottoman Turks in 1821.
Messages addressed to Greece on social media, some also including Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias, were often posted in Greek.
Congratulations came, among others, from the Chinese embassy, the French embassy, the German ambassador, Israel, North Macedonia FM Bujar Osmani, the Swedish ambassador, the Turkish embassy, the Ukrainian ambassador, the United Kingdom ambassador, Frontex, and NATO, among others.
In a message on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak noted Greece and Britain's joint stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the long-term friendship and alliance of the two countries, and the strong trade ties.
The UK is proud, he said, of the role it played in Greece's War of Independence and the creation of the modern Greek state.
Message from the opposition parties
Opposition parties issued their messages for Greek Independence Day 2023 in a series of statements on Friday.
The Communist Party of Greece said that "the bourgeois national liberation Revolution of 1821 remains emblematic, because it confirms that the new, the necessary, and the revolutionary always prevail over the old."
This conflict with the old "is not only historically valuable, it actually extends to the present in the clash with the now outdated capitalist system," the party underlined.
MeRA25 leader Yianis Varoufakis said that the words "'Freedom or Death' were not easily uttered by our rebellious ancestors," as they "chose to sacrifice everything for a freedom that might never come, in full knowledge of the risk-benefit ratio."
"Today, March 25, we, their descendants, as we honor them, we have an obligation to ask ourselves honestly: Are we worthy of them? Are we ready to set aside the private risk-benefit balance for freedom?", Varoufakis added.
Looking at young people, he said, "I think that yes, young people are worthy, and this alone is a source of hope for this country."
Photos copyright Nick Bourdaniotis / Bourdo Photography
Photo Gallery 25th March 2023
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