President Konstantinos Tassoulas, speaking Friday evening at the Presidential Mansion on the 52nd anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, highlighted the challenges facing democracy, describing it as the highest expression of human civilization.
“Democracy is not an easy matter at all. It is the highest expression of human civilization on the governmental and institutional level,” Tassoulas said.
The Presidential Mansion is hosting a reception marking the anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, following the seven-year military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974.
Tassoulas said the anniversary was “a day of honor for those who resisted the dictatorship,” adding that it was also “a day of reflection,” as, “on this day, a seven-year period of authoritarianism ended, which caused the tragedy of Cyprus with Turkey’s brutal invasion.”
An Athens-planned coup on Cyprus led to a Turkish invasion of the island in 1974, resulting in the occupation of its northern third, and de facto division. The occupied north is only recognized as a state by Turkey.
