Greek Pontian Genocide anniversary commemorated at Parliament
The Greek Parliament was lit on Thursday with the letter "G" to commemorate the Remembrance Day for the Genocide of the Greeks of Pontus, while Parliament also convened in a special session.
Commemorating the anniversary at Syntagma Square was the Panpontian Federation of Greece and its members, who bore banners and flags and wore Pontian costumes or t-shirts with the logo "G" for genocide. The event before Parliament concluded when the evzones guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier carried out the changing of the guard wearing Pontian costume.
Several Pontian organizations and political leaders laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while there were Pontian songs and traditional dances as well.
Federation President Giorgos Varithimiadis said that the federation "openly stands against war, wherever it takes place, whoever instigated it." Also attending events were Attica Regional Director Giorgos Patoulis and Paphos Metropolitan Georgios, from Cyprus.
Following the events, people marched to the Turkish Embassy to present a resolution of protest.
May 19 was established as a day to commemorate the Pontian genocide in 1994 following a unanimous vote by the Greek Parliament.
In Thessaloniki, members of the Federation also laid wreaths at the monument of the Pontian Genocide at Agia Sophia Square, and speakers commemorated 353,000 victims and the refugees that left their homes in Anatolia a hundred years ago under threat of crimes and torture.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Interior Minister (Minister of Macedonia-Thrace) Stavros Kalafatis also remembered the Armenian genocide and the occupied lands of Cyprus, as well as Ukrainians. "We Greeks want peace and collaboration will all our neighbors," but under the condition of respecting international law, he said.
Addressing the event were Thessaloniki Mayor Konstantinos Zervas, Deputy Thessaloniki
Regional Director Voula Patoulidou, and attending were several MPs and party representatives. A similar march to protest, before the Turkish consulate, was held in Thessaloniki.
