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Today, the President of the Republic, Ms. Aikaterini Sakellaropoulou, attends the celebrations of the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Kastelorizo, accompanied by representatives of the country’s political and military leadership.
According to the information, the helicopter that transported PTD to the island landed without incident or harassment.
The presence of the President of the Republic has a special symbolic character due to the provocations of Turkey that have been increasing lately.
The President of the Republic attended the eulogy that will take place in the sanctuary of Constantine and Helena, while later she will lay a wreath at the monument to the fallen.
According to the program, in a special event that will take place afterwards, you will be declared an honorary citizen, as decided by the Megisti city council.
As it was learned, the President of the Republic will visit the Navy ships that are in the island’s port and then he will go to the islet of Ro where he will lay a wreath at the monument of the “Lady of Ro” . In the afternoon you will visit places of cultural interest that exist on the island of Kastelorizo where you will spend the night.
On Monday morning, the President of the Republic will attend the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and then the consecration for the beginning of the school year at the island’s school.
The island of Kastelorizo was the first part of Greek territory to be liberated, on September 13, 1943 the destroyer “Almirante Koundouriotis” landed in the port and liberated it. From October and November 1943, German planes bombed the island, demolishing all the remaining houses and forcing the few inhabitants to flee and find refugees, some on the Turkish coast and others in the Gaza refugee camp, Palestine. Only the “Lady of Ro”, Despina Achladioti, remained on her islet of the same name to raise the Greek flag every morning, as she used to do for years.
In 1945, the people of Kastelorizo returned to their homeland on three missions. The latter suffered serious losses after a fire broke out on the “Empire Patrol” ship, the ship on which they were on board, as a result of which 33 people drowned and many were burned. The names of the dead are written on a special board, located in the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Elena.
The island was bombed many times, burned, looted, and generally completely destroyed. It remained under Allied military occupation, like the rest of the Dodecanese, until March 7, 1948, when it officially joined Greece.
In Kas, Akar: “We are in favor of dialogue”
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar today attended Captain Aker’s artillery commemoration ceremony in Kas, Antalya.
“We are in favor of dialogue and good neighborliness,” Akar said. We expect the same from the other side. “
