“Democracy was not given to Greeks, they fought for it”

The above statement was made by the President on the occasion of completing 47 years since the Junta coup of April 21st.

According to Mr. Papoulias “it is always a cause for awe, the struggle of all those who stood up to the junta losing their lives, freedoms and health, where everyone lost their convenient quiet that apathy and silence would offer”.

As he states, on days such as this “we remember that our Democracy was not given to us, but was earned, and will not exist without a lot of hard work”, while, referring to the overthrow of the Republic 47 years ago he spoke of “a traumatic national experience that will not be forgotten or embellished over time”.

“The 7-year junta did not end with just the Cyprus tragedy, by “our country lost a lot of valuable time going backwards, instead of forwards”, concluded the President.