Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis described the National Remembrance Day for the Genocide of Asia Minor Greeks as a day for remembrance and reflection, while he sent a message to Turkey not to falsify history, adding that “historical memory is helpful not only when it hurts but also when it teaches and guides us”, in order not to repeat phenomena of national division in the future.
In particular, Mr. Varvitsiotis, representing the Prime Minister at the memorial service held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens for the victims of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, stressed: “Today is not just a day of Remembrance and Pain for that national tragedy, but also a day of reflection that motivates us to view history from a distance and learn those lessons that will make us able to avoid such disasters in the future”, adding that, the respect for historical truth and International Law should always come first. “As much as it serves Turkish revisionism and falsification of history, the crimes in Asia Minor are confirmed by historical sources and reliable testimony. The massacres of the Greek population in Western Asia Minor and in the Pontus were massive – Raktivan, who was Venizelos’ adviser at the Lausanne Conference, estimated the victims at about 500,000. The refugees who were expatriated exceeded 1.5 million,” he stressed. “Therefore, those who seek to falsify history and say that the Greeks allegedly committed atrocities in Asia Minor, should consider their own historical responsibilities and not offend the memory of those who martyred in these soils. When they deny the past, we have no choice but to pay closer attention to the future, and that is why this genocide must be recognized as part of world history so that it does not happen again. Because only in this way can relations of trust and good neighbourliness be built, if they are reflected in the respect for human existence and of course in the respect for International Law”, he underlined.
At the same time, the Alternate Minister spoke about the contribution of Asia Minor Greeks to our country, “a presence”, as he said, “invaluably creative, fruitful and beneficial for Greece at cultural, economic and social level”, noting that “refugees from the coasts of Asia Minor were a genuine driving force of growth for the Greek economy which was weakened after constant warfare.
In his speech, Mr. Varvitsiotis also noted that “this national tragedy would not have happened if it had not been preceded by the catastrophic National Schism. It poisoned our Nation and led our people to historical impasses”. He added that “if we learn this lesson from today’s somber anniversary, then this national tragedy that took place 99 years ago, at least will have made us wiser and better Greeks, because historical memory is helpful not only when it hurts us, but also when it teaches and guides us.”
And he concluded by saying: “Never again such internal conflicts, never again such disasters! May the earth rest lightly on all the victims of this tragedy and let us keep our memory alive as a sign of respect for the descendants of Asia Minor Greeks, but also for all of us to say, never again such a tragedy”.
Following the memorial service, there was a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.