Athens, 21 April 2022

Statement by President of Hellenic Parliament on 55th anniversary of 21st April military coup

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the military junta coup of 21 April1967, the President of the Hellenic Parliament Constantine Tassoulas, , made the following statement:

"The seven-year military dictatorship not only usurped power forcefully and painfully, but also cut off Greece's contact with Europe in the 1960s. The junta government decision in 1969 for Greece’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe, that is, from the most prominent, international democratic organisation for the protection of human rights, in order to avoid its expulsion,- just like Russia has pulled out at present to avoid its expulsion-, and the long-term freezing of our country's partnership with the then EEC, were part of the international price our country paid because of the junta, but also of its most grave effects on the course of our institutional and economic harmonisation with the advanced western world.

The 1974 Cyprus tragedy and the continuing military occupation of its northern part by Turkey, against all condemning UN resolutions, has been the gravest blow our country has had to suffer, this time at a national level, caused by the military junta at the expense of Hellenism.

However, ever since July 1974 until today, our country has enjoyed the most prolonged and stable democratic regime in its adventurous constitutional history. Respecting and treasuring the foundation of our system of government, popular sovereignty, we strive for peace and prosperity in a turbulent and, unfortunately, threatening environment, aggravated by the recent geopolitical instability, adding further burden on the pre-existing serious challenges of the environmental and health crises.

Having experienced, suffered and not forgotten the pains and ordeals caused by the illiberal regime of 1967-1974, we now confront current challenges as free and responsible citizens of a modern European and democratic state that, against all odds, claims and wins its proper place in the modern world, freely and responsibly ".

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