|
|
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-04-05
CONTENTS
[01] We stay loyal to our principles and values, Greek President says
[01] We stay loyal to our principles and values, Greek President says
"We stay loyal to our principles and values and we do not lower the
flag," Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Sunday after the
memorial service in the Garden of Heroes in the western Greek city of
Messolonghi as part of events for the 189th anniversary of the heroic
Messolonghi exodus.
"We, Greeks, have the duty not to forget the principles and values
that form the foundations of our history. The commitment to freedom,
as an experience, is something that has governed Greeks since the very
distant past. The fight for freedom continues even today not only in
Greece, but throughout the world, because other forces, beyond those that
traditionally threatened freedom, may today prevent man from developing
his personality in accordance with his capabilities," Pavlopoulos said.
"We, Greeks, know the value of freedom; we have learned to conquer it
and teach it. This is what we must do now; being faithful to our ideals
and having on our side all those peoples who are committed to the same
ideals that nowadays are complemented, apart from freedom, with social
justice and humanitarianism, which are essential components of the value
of man. From the sacred site of Messolonghi we send out a message once
again that we stay loyal to these principles and our values, and we do
not lower the flag."
After the end of the commemorative events, the Greek President said
that "the historic light, which springs from the heroic exodus and the
sacrifice of the "Free Besieged" of the city is a never-failing one for
Greeks and the whole world and particularly for Europe."
"This lesson has to be assimilated primarily by the Greeks," he said
adding that Greeks should contemplate on their duty for the present
and the future and finally become the example to their partners in the
international community and the European Union.
"Obviously, they should not ignore their debt towards Greece, either. And
not just for Greece but particularly for the future and the prospects
of the European Union," he concluded.
|