The annual military parade commemorating Greece’s entry into World War II concluded in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Tuesday, presided over by President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, and with the country’s political and armed forces leadership in attendance, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and main opposition leader Nikos Androulakis.

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias was accompanied by his Cypriot counterpart Vassilis Palmas, while also in attendance was European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas – who hails from the Thessaloniki area – ministers, regional and local officials, Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Filotheos, representing the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece, as well as ambassadors accredited to the country.

Statements by president, PM

In statements afterwards, Tasoulas said the anniversary of the legendary ‘No’ “is the greatest and ultimate lesson of the 1940s generation to our contemporary era.”

The courage and heroism of those men and women “always move us and captivate us.  Their love of country and their selflessness are guideposts today for Greeks, uniting them before difficulties of the era and building a homeland that is strong before threats, modern, and with progress.”

Mitsotakis noted that “we live in turbulent and difficult times, but the military parade we just observed today makes us feel secure that the armed forces are always here to defend this liberty for which our ancestors fought. The armed forces are currently in the process, perhaps their greatest transformation in their history, to be able to respond to the great and unique challenges of the times.”

Androulakis

On his part, Androulakis, the president of PASOK party urged for a strong foreign policy and deterrent force, for a productive, competitive economy that will create for all Greek youth. “But also to say a strong ‘No’ to corruption, injustice and impunity.”

DM Dendias

Defense Minister Dendias this year’s parade in Thessaloniki highlighted the first visible sample of the Greek armed forces’ transition to a new era.

“It is the first time an innovation section is part of a parade, incorporating the transformation of the military into a contemporary, technologically advanced and operationally independent deterrent power.”

X Post by Israeli ambassador

Pupils’ parades

Student parades took part in Athens and in numerous cities, towns and villages across the country.

Representative sections of pupils from schools in the municipality of Athens marched in the center of the capital, passing before the Monument to the Unknown Soldier located in in front of Parliament, accompanied by the city’s philharmonic orchestra.