The Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos attended today, Sunday, October 30, 2022, at the commemorative events organized by the Region of Western Macedonia in Eptachori, Kastoria, where the “Strategy of Pindos” was based under Colonel Konstantinos Davakis and where the first victory over the Axis forces was achieved in November 1940.

Also present at the event was the Head of the Prime Minister’s Office in Thessaloniki, Mrs. Maria Antoniou, the Member of Parliament of Kastoria of the ND Mr. Zisis Tzikalayas, the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia Mr. George Kasapidis, the Mayor of Nestorius Mr. Christos Gosliopoulos, the Commander of the 3rd SS / NRDC-GR Lieutenant General Sotirios Kostakoglourepresentatives of parties, the Local and Regional Self-Government and other cultural bodies.

The Minister of National Defense attended the memorial service performed by the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Kastoria, Mr. Kallinikos at the busts of the six Hero Fighters of 1940, among whom was Colonel Konstantinos Davakis, where he laid a wreath. Then he went to Davaki Square where the house that was used and stood out as a Headquarters dominates.

Mr. Panagiotopoulos also went to the Local Community of Zouzoulis, where he watched the trisago and laid a wreath at the graves of the fallen Greek Officers and Soldiers who fought during the Greek War of 1940-1941.

From Davaki Square in Eptachori, the Minister of National Defense stated the following:

“Many and brilliant these days are the events of celebration and commemoration of the Epic of 1940, anniversary of October 28, but the one I attended today here in Eptachori of Kastoria was certainly special, here was the headquarters of Colonel Konstantinos Davakis, who came from August 1940 in Pindos, to organize and prepare the Greek defense against the upcoming Italian invasion that was evident from the developments of that time.

So I had the Honor and the Joy to participate in the commemoration events today and let us all remember the heroes who fought, fought and sacrificed, to repel the Italian invasion and keep Greece free. I also said in my deposition and I insist and I will always say it, that this country and this place, especially this place where everything happened then, carries a very heavy historical burden.

Loaded with Glory and Blood, but this load is not a burden, it cannot be a burden to us, it is our strength and will continue to be our strength as we continue to strive to meet threats and challenges not only of security modern era which certainly has its own characteristics and must always find us ready and prepared like the Greek Army with Colonel Davakis, here in Eptachori here in the mountains of Pindos.

Happy Birthday”.