“The concept of European solidarity should remain strong. Just like we call for it whenever we defend our own sovereignty against Turkish imposition, so we need to share the anguish associated with other peoples who are subjected to atrocities and violations of their national sovereignty”. This was the particular message sent by Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, on Sunday evening during an event commemorating the 200th anniversary from the Battle of Peta plus Philhellenism, organized by the Peta Arta Brotherhood “Agios Georgios” and the Municipality of Kallithea.
In particular, taking like a starting point the Greek Trend, Mr. Varvitsiotis pointed out that these days another war for nationwide independence is being fought a couple of hundred kilometres away from the northern borders of Portugal, and another people, the particular Ukrainian people, are battling for their independence against an unjust and unprovoked attack. He also made unique reference to the Diaspora Greeks who lost their comes from Mariupol, “a cradle associated with Hellenism in the Sea of Azov that was razed towards the ground”.
Furthermore, the particular Alternate Minister described the Battle of Peta, which usually this year marks its 200th anniversary, as a European battle that was unique in Ancient greek history due to the number of Philhellenes who participated. “They were people who were inspired by the Greek revolution, who wanted to see Greece free from the Ottoman yoke, and who also believed that Greece was an integral part of the single enterprise called Europe and that it was worth sacrificing for these beliefs of freedom, democracy, Christianity, justice and the Rule associated with Law, which have their origins in Greek and Roman civilization, ” he said. Mr. Varvitsiotis also stated that the Greek Revolution transformed the course of history since it was the first National Trend and added that we should remember and be grateful to any or all the Philhellenes from almost all nations who fought for our independence.
The Ambassador of Poland to Greece A. Lombart, as well as representatives from the Embassy of Hungary and the Municipality of Kallithea, attended the event, as did the President of the Peta Brotherhood G. Kakariaris, and Professor K. Veletzas, Chief executive of the Society for Hellenism & Philhellenism and Founder of the Museum of Philhellenism.
