Greeks must be proud of what they achieved, leaving behind the deprivations of the aftermath of World War II and becoming "another Greece."

Sakellaropoulou made special mention of the resistance fighters who were tortured by the junta, including Spyros Moustaklis, Alekos Panagoulis, and Sakis Karagiorgas, and also referred to the day's marking of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation of Cyprus.

50-year achievements

The Greek president said the day's significance lay in bringing to Greece "the smoothest and most progressive era of our modern history, a political, social, and cultural achievement of Greeks, with its landmark being the universal enjoyment of democracy and lifting of restrictions and discriminations."

"Election integrity, the seamless transition of parties in rule, and the stability of the parliamentary system show the depth and the resilience of our demorcratic institutions, even at times that are difficult for society and the political system," the Greek president said, adding that the fall of the junta also brought a resurgence of literature and the arts, while education became a common good instead of a privilege for the few. "Greeks acquired more opportunities and enriched their experiences, they studied and travelled abroad," she noted.

EU accession

But what marked Greece most of all was its accession in the European Union and then the eurozone, Sakellaropoulou said: it improved Greek living standards, institutions, perceptions, and way of life. "The European and Greek identities are indistinguishable, they are inseparable," she noted. "Our country solidified its presence in the heart of the EU, becoming a guarantor of security in the East Mediterranean and the wider region. Greeks must be proud of what they achieved. Democratic Greece left the post-war deprivations behind it. It is now a different Greece."

Yet, at the same time, "this half-century we experienced great trials and reversals," the Greek president said, adding, "We experienced the consecutive crises of our era, the top-most being the fiscal one. We were confronted by external conditions and factors, as well as by our own weaknesses and deeply-ingrained ills. We became witnesses to tragic events at Mati and at Tempi that deeply traumatized us. The traumas of the democratic era summon us to self-reflection, reflection, and vigilance.

"They remind us of the importance of consensus and of the general interest against political small-mindedness and inertia for fear of political cost," in addition to the obligation for zero tolerance to any form of political violence and challenge to the fundamenal values of democracy. "The quality of democracy cannot be taken for granted, nor does history develop in a linear fashion, especially in a world that is in transition and in suspension," the Greek president underlined.

Challenges ahead

Sakellaropoulou also referred to contemporary challenges, which she said went beyond Greek borders. She named artificial intelligence both for its benefits to several sectors like health, work, and education, but also expressed concern about its distortions, its erosion of democracy and one's personal sphere by fake news, and the replacement of human resources by algorithms. "The high cost of living, the shrinking of purchasing power, and the opening of the gap between the winners and losers of globalization call for the need for regulations and public policies based on social justice and the equality of opportunities," the president underlined.

Sakellaropoulou also called for urgent measures against climate crisis, which "threatens humanity's existence" and noted how fragile geopolitical balances are in the region, which called for defending basic principles, such as the peaceful coexistence of people. "Liberal democracy is at a critical crossroads and must reinvent iteself, and renew itself," she underlined.

In conclusion, the Greek president said, addressing the guests, "Our look is not only focused on the past and on an accounting of it. It is focused on the future of our state, to what is ahead, to our people's fears and expectations. We owe Greeks and the coming generations, that will assume the burdens of our homeland, a continuity that is equal to and even better than these past 50 years, drawing strength from their democratic and liberal example, and providing new breath, meaning, and momentum."

Guests

Following her speech, President Sakellaropoulou greeted politicians and resistance fighters.

Attending the reception at the Presidential Mansion gardens were, among others, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Parliament President Constantine Tassoulas, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Stefanos Kasselakis, PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis, Communist Party General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoubas, New Left Parliamentary Group President Alexis Charitsis, Plefsi Eleftherias leader Zoe Konstantopoulou, Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, Apostolos Kaklamanis, Yannis Stournaras, ministers, artists, business people, athletes, and others.