Ankara’s intense and provocative reaction was triggered by statements by the President of the Republic, Konstantinos Tasoula and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as well as a post by Defense Minister Nikos Dendia on X, on the occasion of the anniversary of the National Day. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry, on the one hand, speaks of unfounded and outrageous statements and calls on the Greek authorities. «To avoid the adoption of domestic political motivation and the initiatives aimed at incitement to hostility between the two nations. “In particular, Ankara’s announcement states: “We reject the unfounded and outrageous statements made by the Greek authorities, on the pretext of the so -called anniversary of unfounded allegations about the period during which Greece attempted to invade and occupy Anatolia.
Such references contradict historical events and efforts to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries.
We call on the Greek authorities to avoid the adoption of internal political motivation and the initiatives aimed at incitement to hostility between the two nations. “
The statement of the President of the Republic
It is noted that the President of the Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas said: “Today is a day of memory of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor, after a historical presence of more than 3,000 years.
We remember, respect and honor the memory of the thousands of Greeks who were murdered and violently expelled from their ancestral outbreaks to root again, these uprooted, to Greece, carrying all their creative breath with them.
On September 24, 1998, the Hellenic Parliament unanimously voted to be today’s “Day of the National Memory of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace by the Turkish State”, so we, and we need it, and we need it,
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ statement
For his part, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his weekly review, noted for today’s memory:
“In closing, I would like to pay tribute to today’s memory of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor by the Turkish state. September will remind us of the tragedy of an entire nation. A memory that, as Smyrna George Seferis wrote, “where you touch her, is in the sake of it” and invites us not to forget. Because a people who forget their story is doomed to live it again. “
Nikos Dendia’s post
The Turkish Foreign Ministry’s announcement was preceded by Nikos Dendia in X. In particular, the Defense Minister wrote: “A day of national memory of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor, which was established by a unanimous decision of the Hellenic Parliament on 24/99. We honor the memory of the victims and Asia Minor Hellenism. “
“He managed,” he emphasizes, “to orthodoxy after uprooting and contribute to the country’s economic, spiritual and social life.”
Mr Dendia’s post concludes with reference to G. Seferis: “… Who left by hitting petals on the plates? Abolished their eyes; blind. There are no more witnesses, for nothing. “
A day of national memory of the Genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor, which was established by unanimous decision of the Hellenic Parliament on 24/9/1998.
We honor the memory of the victims and Asia Minor Hellenism. He managed to orthodox after uprooting and contribute to the greatest to… pic.twitter.com/pPDhu8hH0D
– Nikos Dendias (@nikosdendias) September 14, 2025