Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis, representing the Greek government, made the following statement at the student parade in Thessaloniki:
“Today’s student parade links two major anniversaries of modern Hellenism: The liberation of Thessaloniki and the Epic of 1940, which are poignant and inspirational.
The schoolchildren of Thessaloniki, like young people all over Greece, are those who renew our people’s hope and can transform the old ideals into new, peaceful forms aimed at progress and creativity, which is a goal that can be achieved by synthesizing the two virtues that characterize us as Greeks: courage and solidarity.
As the government, we are working towards strengthening free public education – qualitatively upgraded – and creating jobs through growth in order to stop the stream of young people leaving our homeland.
Many happy returns to everyone!”
October 27, 2015