“Despite the difficulties, we, in our turn, are also making our own exit from a Greece of low expectations to one of great demands and high expectations, away from the darkness of toxicity and the fixation of introversion, in an effort, however, that also today presupposes unity, certainty and political maturity.”

This was stressed, among other things, by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, delivering the solemn speech of the day at the Garden of Heroes in Messolonghi, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the heroic exit of the Free Besieged.

As the Prime Minister added, “within the walls of Messolonghi we had a unique example of unity and solidarity, which kept them standing for a long time. People of different origins, with different temperaments and thinking, vowed to suppress any personal ambitions and banish any conflict,” he continued:

“They thus formed a special landmark of unity. That is precisely why I spoke of the many parallel messages that this place sends out: messages of mass action, personal transcendence and conscious unity. Messages, in other words, that have reached beyond the place from which they originated, sculpting history, so that the actions of that period eventually become timeless symbols. Thus, 200 years later, the Exodus continues to invite us to an entry into national self-awareness, all the more so today, when threats are many and peace in our neighbourhood is far from being a given.” As he said at this point, “while the challenges may be different, many of the issues remain the same, first and foremost the unity of our people and the armouring of national dignity and self-confidence.”

“Certainly”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis continued, “two centuries ago Greece was a small nation; it had not even been formed into a state and was anxiously asking for the help of the Great Powers to justify its struggle”, he added: “Today we are a sovereign state, with significant European and international weight, with impregnable borders and with powerful Armed Forces. With a dynamic economy that supports society as best it can, but also with its citizens united. This enhanced position allows us to be present wherever Hellenism needs us, something we have recently demonstrated with our direct support to Cyprus against the dangers of the conflict in Iran, remaining a pillar of stability in a world of instability and a country on a growth trajectory in the midst of an uncertain international environment.”

“Messolonghi,” the Prime Minister noted, “therefore invites us to reflect that freedom and democracy can never be taken for granted. They are living organisms that need care, which means both participation and responsibility.”

“Because, let us not forget,” he stressed, “that back then the heroes of 1826 fought in Messolonghi with everything they had, knowing that they were saying no to the dishonourable tradition, without even having the time and means to defend it.”

“I would say, then,” said the Prime Minister, “that, despite the difficulties, we, in our turn, are also making our own exit from a Greece of low expectations to that of great claims and high demands, away from the darkness of toxicity and the fixation of introversion, in an effort, however, that also today presupposes unity, confidence and political maturity”.

“This is because,” he said, “it would be a mistake, at the current juncture, if we did not place the country in the big picture that surrounds it; a picture that, unfortunately, portends geopolitical upheavals that require defensive and diplomatic vigilance, economic upheavals that will call for realistic, but necessary, adjustments in order to adapt society, but also populist excesses, which can only be defeated by the counterattack of the front of truth”, he added:

“Our ancestors, after all, did not stand side by side because they agreed on everything, but because they projected the knowledge that they were fighting for something bigger than themselves. This sense of common destiny is, I think, what we now owe to each other and together to our country: a compass so that, in the turbulent international waters, the national ship will always sail free and never under siege.”

@ellada24gr Mitsotakis: Messolonghi reminds us that freedom and democracy are never taken for granted #greeknews #newsfeed #ellada24 #foryou #foryoupage #greektiktok #tiktokgreece #fyp #tiktokgr #ελληνικοτικτοκ #φοργιου #politics #politicstiktok #politicsnews #politiki ♬ original sound – Ellada24