President of the Republic Costas Tasoulas lays a wreath (photo: APE-MPA / Dimitris Alexoudis)
May 19 The governmental enactment of Greece made statements astir genocide of the Pontic Greeksthe representation of the victims and the request for planetary recognition.
May 19V Remembrance Day of the Pontic Greek Genocidepolitical and authorities enactment Greece made statements astir the tragedy Pontic Hellenisminternational designation of genocide and preservation of humanities memory.
This year, the memorable day has again go not lone a time of mourning, but besides a governmental reminder: the question Pontian genocide remains for Greece a theme of humanities justice, diplomacy and nationalist memory. True, arsenic is usually the lawsuit successful politics, each statement sounded a small differently: from the restrained state tone to enactment accents and the usual ideological references.
Tasoulas: representation requires the extortion of humanities truth
President of Greece Konstantinos Tasoulas stated that the representation of the victims genocide of the Pontic Greeks calls connected the state to stay committed to the values on which the peaceful coexistence of peoples is built.
According to Athina 9.84the president called genocide a transgression against humanity under the Ottoman Empire, which profoundly marked Hellenism and the humanities consciousness of the Greeks.
According to Tasulasathis time reminds us of the request to support humanities truth and proceed efforts for planetary designation of genocide arsenic an enactment of justness and motivation restoration. He besides emphasized that Greece continues to beforehand dialogue, reconciliation and planetary cooperation, and designation of humanities crimes should not beryllium seen arsenic an enactment of opposition.
Mitsotakis: a indebtedness of representation and gratitude
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called the genocide of the Pontic Greeks 1 of the astir tragic pages of modern history. In his statement, helium recalled 353,000 deaddeportations, executions, decease marches, labour battalions and the demolition of monuments, churches and monasteries.
As helium writes HuffPost Greecethe Prime Minister emphasized that, contempt the transition of time, the representation remains alive. He noted that the surviving Pontic radical who arrived successful Greece managed to turn symptom into creation: they built caller cities, enriched the civilization of the state and became portion of the instauration of the modern Greek state.
According to Mitsotakisthe Pontic assemblage owes not lone a indebtedness of memory, but besides a indebtedness of gratitude. This is an important emphasis: the Pontic radical successful his statement are presented not lone arsenic victims of tragedy, but besides arsenic an progressive unit that contributed greatly to the improvement of modern Greece.
Androulakis: planetary designation is not lone a nationalist task
Leader PASOK – KINAL Nikos Androulakis named May 19 “the achromatic day successful the past of Hellenism.” He emphasized that it is present indispensable to take the adjacent step successful the substance of planetary designation Pontic genocide.
How it conveys ERT News, Androulakis stated that successful an epoch when revisionist forces are trying to redraw the map, and wars and wide displacement of radical are erstwhile again a reality, planetary designation of the Pontian genocide is not lone a nationalist goal, but besides a universal task.
According to him, lone a strong corporate representation tin forestall the recurrence of such crimes against humanity. The wording is mostly correct. All that remains is for representation to truly work arsenic a brake successful planetary politics, and not arsenic a decorative plaque connected the wall.
Koutsumbas: designation of genocide and the problems of the Pontians today
Secretary General CNG Dimitris Koutsoumbas took portion successful an lawsuit organized by All-Pontic Federation of Greece successful parliament. He stated that CNG supports the request for authoritative designation of the genocide of the Greeks of Pontus.
According to ERT News, Koutsumbas reminded maine of astir 350,000 dead and much than 1 cardinal expelled. In doing so, helium connected Pontus’s tragedy with a broader critique of wars, imperialist conflicts and the policies of the ruling classes.
Separately, helium touched upon the situation of the Pontic Greeks who moved to Greece aft the illness of the USSR. According to him, galore of them still look problems of housing, infrastructure and afloat κοινωνικά integration. In particular, helium stated that successful 2026 The houses of galore Pontic Greeks stay extracurricular the municipality plan, without sewerage, and successful some cases adjacent without water supply.
Dendias: humanities representation arsenic an constituent of nationalist identity
Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias successful his statement helium called the genocide of the Pontic Greeks 1 of the largest crimes against humanity successful the 20th century.
According to Insider Greece, Dendias noted that Greece honors the representation 353,000 victimsas well arsenic the large publication of the Pontians to the economic, spiritual and κοινωνικά beingness of the state and their information successful each nationalist struggles.
According to the minister, the preservation of humanities representation is an constituent of nationalist individuality and a minimum work of the state and society.
Parliament honored the victims with a infinitesimal of silence
The memorable day was besides celebrated successful Greek parliament. According to Athina 9.84plenary league commemorated 353,000 victims genocide of the Pontic radical and the forced expulsion of Pontic Hellenism with a infinitesimal of silence.
Presiding Paris Koukoulopoulos emphasized the request to reconstruct humanities truth done universal planetary designation of the genocide. He besides noted that adjacent European Parliament I person not yet travel to such recognition.
“New Left”: representation should not beryllium selective
“New Left” stated that May 19 is simply a time of memory, grant and humanities responsibility. The enactment statement said that Pontic Hellenism survived exile, demolition and the nonaccomplishment of its homelands, but managed to sphere culture, language, representation and dignity.
As helium writes in.grthe enactment besides opposed denial, revisionism and humanities oblivion. At the aforesaid clip “New Left” connected the representation of the Pontian genocide with modern tragedies and stated that representation cannot beryllium selective.
Memory, authorities and the unfinished question of recognition
Statements by Greek politicians vary successful tone, but hold connected the main thing: genocide of the Pontic Greeks remains not lone a humanities wound, but besides a substance of planetary recognition. For some, this is chiefly a nationalist representation and a work to the Pontic community. For others, it is portion of a larger statement astir war, displacement, revisionism and peoples’ rights.
But the wide decision sounds rather clear: aft 107 years old aft the opening of the tragedy of Pontic Hellenism, the representation of it remains alive. And if state statements should not turn into an yearly ritual with beauteous words and zero continuation, then the main question remains the same: what precisely are Greece and Europe acceptable to bash for planetary designation of this leafage of history?
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