Message for 58 years since her coup April 21, 1967 sent by the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas.
Mr Tasoulas noted that “if we have to learn from today’s” Black Anniversary “is the obligation of all of us, political leadership and citizens, to shield and further enhance our institutions, our national unity and the common effort for normalcy and stability.”
Read his entire statement below:
“58 years ago on the night of April 21, 1967, the country’s constitution and the freedoms of the Greek people were abolished by the imposition of a military dictatorship that lasted 7 years. During this gloomy period, the country and society have regressed. The country was cut off from international and especially the European environment, freedom of expression was destroyed and thousands of citizens were tortured and dragged into prisons and exile. The ending of this radical diversion from the democratic course is well known. After all, she was predicted by George Seferis, just two years after her enforcement dictatorship. Let us remember him: “Everyone has been taught it and they know that in dictatorial situations the principle may seem easy, but the tragedy is waiting inevitable in the end. The drama of this end torments us, consciously or unconsciously, as in Aeschylus’ old dances. As long as the abnormality is left, the evil (…) I see in front of me the cliff where the oppression that covered the place. This abnormality must stop. It’s a national check … “
It had to take five more years, until this abnormality was “stopped”. To precede the student uprisings of law and Technical Universityto manifest the Ioannidis coup and make the jump on the cliff, the July 15 coup in Cyprus at the behest of the junta Ioannides with the aim of overthrowing the elected President Makarios. We see the heavy price of that diversion to date at Cyprus Where, despite the opposite resolutions of the UN, it remains under Turkey’s illegal military occupation of almost 40% of its extent. It was the cruel price paid by Hellenism before the dictatorship collapsed at the expense of its aspects.
Fifty -eight years later, our country is going through the longest period of democratic governance. A period during which even extreme political conflicts have not been able to undermine the strong foundations of the Hellenic Republic. Foundations, based on popular sovereignty expressed through the elections and democratic processes imposed by the Constitution, the rule of law, and the country’s unmistakable connection with Europe.
And if we have to learn from today’s “black anniversary” is the obligation of all of us, political leadership and citizens, to shield and further enhance our institutions, our national unity and the common effort for normalcy and stability. “