Political messages on March 25 call for honouring the sacrifices of freedom fighters
As many eons as may go by, passion for freedom will always motivate and inspire struggles and the revolutionary demand for democracy, Parliament President Zoi Konstantopoulou said after the Greek Independence Day parade on Wednesday in Athens.
"On days like this and at such times is it vital to remember those who gave their lives so we may be free," Konstantopoulou said. "We must remember that freedom holds the meaning of life, dignity, rights and democracy; anything less is beneath the heritage left by those who sacrificed themselves," she noted.
Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who represented the government at events on Crete, said that "national sovereignty is the only stable foundation in friendship among peoples" and said today people are being called to "prove worthy of them and place at the forefront and above all freedom and dignity in Europe."
Also attending the events at the city of Chania were deputies and Potami party leader Stavros Theodorakis, who said that Greece needs another revolution today, one of logic; "We have great power and must come to the forefront with great changes in the right direction," he said.
In Thessaloni, Alternate Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas represented the government in the parade, which was preceded by a service at the Theou Sofias church in which Metropolitan Anthimos of Thessaloniki officiated.
Parades were also held in Alexandroupoli (attended by Deputy National Defence Minister Nikos Toskas), Patras (attended by LDeputy Labour Minister for Combatting Unemployment Rania Antonopoulou) and other cities, while parades in Tripolis, Sparta and Argos were cancelled because of rain and cold.
National Defence Minister Panos Kammenos spoke of the unity of Greeks who will face any threat to national sovereignty, and thanked all parade participants and those on duty at border and island stations, and gave an honorary five-day leave to all armed forces personnel who took part in the parade.
Statements for the Greek Independence anniversary were issued, among others, by Education Minister Aristides Baltas, main opposition party New Democracy, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Cyprus Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides, who attended the Athens parade on Wednesday.
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