President Trump's many praises for Greece and its contribution to shaping Western culture, and in the presence of members of the US government and more than 400 prominent Greek-Americans, marked the White House on Monday afternoon marking the 198th anniversary of the Greek national liberation struggle. in 1821. During the ceremony, the American president signed a proclamation declaring March 25, 2019 "National Day of Celebration of the Greek and American Republic".
Donald Trump said that "we celebrate the long struggle of the Greeks to regain their independence from a foreign empire."
"On March 25, 1821, the Greek patriots revolted and fought to liberate their country, to restore their national sovereignty and to determine their destiny."
Referring to the contribution of Greece, he said that "the United States - and all Western culture - has been deeply shaped by the extraordinary achievements of the Greek people, which date back to ancient times. It's a great culture, "said President Trump.
He noted that Greek poets and philosophers such as Homer and Aristotle helped mankind to pursue truth, virtue and justice.
"Ancient Greece achieved exceptional achievements in architecture, geometry, cartography and so many others that have inspired all the wonders of humanity. "And Greece is the birthplace of democracy."
He said that as a famous Greek historian wrote, "happiness depends on being free and freedom depends on being courageous." And you are courageous ", he said addressing the audience.
Today, we celebrate the long struggle of the Greeks to regain their independence from a foreign empire. On March 25, 1821, the Greek patriots revolted and fought to liberate their country, restore their national sovereignty and determine their destiny.
The contribution of Greek Americans
President Donald Trump praised Greek-Americans for their continued contribution to every field of American life, in business, science, education, music, religion, and sports, and named some of the Greek-Americans present.
"This afternoon, we celebrate the diverse ways in which Greek-Americans strengthen, elevate and inspire our nation. You live by the values that underlie the greatness of America. You honor hard work. You love your families. You enrich your culture. And you embrace the American dream and keep your faith in the blessing of Almighty God. And that's wonderful. "
He went on to say about the expatriates that they have dedicated their lives to their families, their communities and our country. "Through the motivation of creation and your will to succeed - you are very competitive, I can tell you that. You never stop. You never give up. This is exactly what we want. You have brought jobs and hope to the cities of America. And you have deepened the bonds of love and renewed the pride of patriotism that unites us as a people, a family and a glorious nation under the roof of God.
The Greeting of the Archbishop of America
In his greeting, Archbishop Demetrios of America said that on this anniversary we honor the unique struggle of our ancestors for freedom and justice.
"A very small number of people without sufficient resources, after four centuries of hard, foreign occupation, reacted against the mighty Ottoman Empire and with a terrible determination, enormous sacrifices and God's help managed to re-establish Greece as an independent and free state. "There is no better place to honor such a historic event than the White House, the symbol of the American nation that is the beacon of freedom for all."
The head of the Greek Orthodox Church in America reminded the American president that in the many celebrations of the Greek Independence Day in the White House "we have always raised issues of freedom, especially regarding the freedom of religion for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the justice of Cyprus and the correct name for a neighboring country, Greece, Balkan country ".
He concluded by addressing President Trump that knowing his personal commitment to the most valuable issues of justice and freedom for all, "thank you for listening to us and asking you to continue your support on the above issues."
THE DECLARATION
The declaration signed by the American president emphasizes that the strong alliance between Greece and the USA and their unwavering friendship are rooted in mutual respect and the common commitment to freedom, justice and democracy.
"Today, our Greek-American partnership is strong and gaining momentum. "The first United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue, which took place last December, and the United States-Greece Trade Dialogue, which took place last September, underscored the strength of bilateral relations and strengthened confidence in Greece as a regional leader." President Trump.
At the same time, he states that the USA "welcomes the historic decision of the Greek parliament in 2019 to ratify the Prespa Agreement, which resolved the long-standing nominal dispute with Northern Macedonia. "This ratification reaffirmed Greece's role as a partner with a commitment to promoting stability, security and prosperity in the region."
He also adds that the Thessaloniki International Fair in 2018 forged opportunities for enhanced cooperation in technology, business and innovation.
The declaration also refers to the cooperation of the two countries for defense and security.
"Our common vision for a peaceful and prosperous region is particularly evident in our ongoing defense relationship. "The exchange of NATO aircraft and equipment through Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis, the complex bilateral training activities and the availability of the Gulf of Souda to the United States Navy reflect mutually beneficial cooperation to ensure our mutual strength and security." , said the American president. He added that "our bilateral relationship has also offered many opportunities to support partnerships and initiatives in the fields of defense and security, law enforcement and counter-terrorism, as well as energy security and diversification."
Source: KYPE