In this context, the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis, made statements about the importance of this day, highlighting the lasting contribution of Asia Minor Hellenism to Greek history and the nation’s identity.
Mr. Arnautakis underlined that the memory of the genocide and the sacrificed Asia Minor remains alive, stressing that the tragedy suffered by the Greeks of Asia Minor formed a decisive chapter in the country’s recent history. The Greek refugees who found themselves in Crete after 1922 made a decisive contribution to the social, economic and cultural progress of the island. As the Regional Governor characteristically mentioned, “the nobility and glamor of Asia Minor remains indelible over the years”.
The Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922, which resulted in the violent expulsion of Greeks from their ancestral homes, caused a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Nevertheless, the Asia Minor refugees did not stop preserving their cultural and national identity, despite the adversities. Their contribution to the preservation of national cohesion and the cultural development of Crete, but also of the rest of Greece, was invaluable.
Mr. Arnautakis, representing the Region of Crete, expressed his deep honor and respect for the victims of the Asia Minor Disaster, stressing that the heroism and courage shown by the Greeks of Asia Minor in the face of disasters and sufferings is an example of endurance and faith for the next generations.
In memory of the victims, the events continue, while the historical memory remains indelible, as does the contribution of the Asia Minors to Greek society.
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