Remarks by Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou on the occasion of the 23rd Anniversary of the Greek War of Independence

ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ

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At The Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies, March 22, 2023

Dear Friends,

It is such a pleasure seeing you all gathered here in person to day in order to celebrate Greece’s National Day; something we have not been able to do for a few years now, for many reasons, main among them the Covid pandemic. Thank you all for coming to honor Greece and the Greek struggle for independence and statehood.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes, of course, to The Center for Hellenic Studies and its Director, Dr. Mark Schiefsky, for making this wonderful venue available to us. It is very generous of you, Dr. Schiefsky. I would also like to especially thank Ms. Zoie Lafis, the Center’s Executive Director, for her invaluable assistance in making this event a reality.

As well as all the people in the Center and everybody else for giving us a very helpful, and so much needed, hand in organizing this event. And, last, but not least, our sponsors, Alma Bank- a Greek owned private bank, the first one of its kind in the US for a long-long time. Also, Hydra Waters and its owner Louis Skendonis, as well as Evangelos Moutoudis of Dunkin Donuts.

Over 200 years ago, the Greek people, inspired and encouraged by the American Revolution, put Greece on the path to statehood, making it the first nation in Europe to break free from the claws of an empire and setting an example for many others to follow.

The Greek people saw liberty and self-government as inherent human rights; and decided that they deserved equal standing as a free and sovereign nation.

To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, the Greek people were determined to assume “among the powers of the earth, the separate station they were entitled to.”

And, I repeat, this was the first time that a people united by language and faith successfully revolted against an empire, a pattern that was indeed emulated by other people.

One could fairly say that this was a time when the cradle of democracy rocked the world, forcing empires to deal with the concept of national identity and inspiring other nations; an example that reverberated across the world as far as South America. This was a triumph of statehood, of liberty, and popular sovereignty.

It was a long and arduous struggle. Yet the Greek people remained committed to it and endured. Endurance was their strongest weapon. Endurance and tolerance; without ever losing sight of the goal ahead.

Driven by the desire for freedom, the struggle of the Greek people accomplished something unique, carving the path towards statehood of the modern world, bringing about a totally new ruling philosophy and institutions, away from empire towards nation and constitutional representation, towards an organized society of states.

Today, Greece is a stable democracy and a member of the global community of states and institutions, emerging victorious from a sweeping economic crisis in the previous decade, while at the same time safeguarding democratic principles, ensuring social cohesion and without surrendering to extremism. Located in a sensitive part of the world, Greece has become a pillar of stability in southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, despite continuing geopolitical tumult in the broader region.

Greece is also a great friend and ally of the United States. Over the last few years, it is safe to say that no other country has moved closer to the U.S. than Greece, solidifying the Greek American partnership with bipartisan support both here and at home.

In recent years, military and political cooperation, especially in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, people-to-people ties, and collaborations in the fields of energy, investments and economy have intensified.

Our military cooperation has been enhanced as reflected in our updated Mutual Defense Cooperation agreement; our economic ties are growing stronger thanks to significant American investments, especially in the field of Big Tech.

Regional cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and many of our neighbors/like-minded neighbors -has also been recognized as an exemplary platform for promoting stability and prosperity in our extended region.

But-above everything else-what brings Greece and the US closer together is the commonality of principles and values; these strong -time tested- ties that bind our two nations together.

And in turbulent times, like the present ones, when our values, our principles, our way of life are so hard challenged, it is only fitted to remind ourselves “that freedom, democracy and the rule of law remain the best, the last and the only bulwark against oppression, tyranny, and authoritarian control”, to quote the Greek Prime Minister in his address last year to the Joint session of Congress. And this challenge we can only face together, all of us here today.

A Proclamation on Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, March 2023