The event organised for the 46th anniversary of the restoration of the Greek Republic took place at the Presidential Mansion in full compliance with the rules imposed to stem the spread of the pandemic and in the shadow of the constant provocations from Ankara. In fact, the “hostess” is for the first time a woman, that is the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakelaropoulou.
In her message, the President of the Hellenic Republic stressed the determination of Greece to defend its sovereign rights in the Aegean Sea. She also spoke of the desecration of Hagia Sophia and, in a discreet way, she made clear to Erdogan that those who think that they can affect the worldwide reputation of the monument would be proved wrong.
Referring to the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque after 86 years, she stressed that it was “an event that was deeply harmful” and that it offended not only the Orthodox and Christians in general but also the whole civilised world. She added that it delivered a serious “blow to Turkey’s relationship with Greece, the EU and the global community.”
“Turkey is removing itself from the principles of the secular state and the values of tolerance and religious pluralism. It is moving towards extreme nationalism and Islamisation and, therefore, undermines the ‘meeting’ of cultures and religions.” But she highlighted that those who think that they are able to affect the worldwide reputation of the monument would be proved wrong.
