Recognition and honor, for the contribution of Kyriakos Maridakis at the unveiling of the monument to the Holocaust of Greek Jews in the presence of Greek and Israeli officials
"Day of remembrance and honor for the Municipality of Argos Mycenae. No more genocides, no more holocausts"
The Ecumenical Greek of Culture as stated on the honorary plaque Kyriakos Maridakis Founding President of the Hellenic-Israeli Union, authorized consultant for the internationalization of the ceremony, head of diplomatic relations and international organizations of the International Executive Committee of Salamis and member of the International Honorary Deanery Thermopylae - Salamis 2020 following the landmark phrase of John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" received as recognition and honor, the honorary distinction from the Mayor of Argos and Mycenae and President of the Regional Union of Peloponnese Municipalities, Mr. Dimitrios Kamposos, contributing the utmost to the organization of the internationalization of the unveiling ceremony of the monument to the holocaust of the Greek Jews of the Pontian genocide and the Asia Minor disaster, at the highest government level, with the honorable presence of state officials , of high institutional representatives n bodies of the Israeli business community, as well as Greek and Israeli top government officials, contributing alongside his actions to the strengthening of relations between the two states and foreign policy.
Mr. Maridakis, clearly moved as always simple, humble and modest, told us:
"I consider it a great honor to receive this honorary distinction in the oldest city in the world, from the Mayor of Argos and Mycenae, in the presence of senior government officials, and institutions from Greece and Israel, contributing with all my strength to the unveiling of an international monument honoring and commemorating thousands of innocent souls.
I believe that the historical Argos is now a global cradle of peace and solidarity. humanity and historical Justice.
I remember the words of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis saying that two words always accompany every test of our nation I DON'T FORGET.
WE DON'T FORGET!!
Let ALL of us from today NEVER AGAIN allow the followers of intolerance, bigotry, obscurantism and anti-Semitism to once again lead humanity into a new genocide, a new disaster, a new holocaust.
We owe it to the memory of millions of innocent souls.
We owe it to humanity.
I want to sincerely thank the Mayor of Argos and Mycenae and President of the Peloponnese Regional Union of Municipalities, Mr. Dimitrios Kamposos, on the one hand, for the initiative of erecting the monument, and on the other hand, for the honor bestowed upon me.
On the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Remembrance and Dignity for the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, the Municipality of Argos Mycenae organized on Sunday, December 4, 2022 in the city of Argos, the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the Greek victims of the Jewish Holocaust, of the Pontian genocide and the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
The event was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & the General Secretariat of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy, and among other distinguished guests, the representative of the Prime Minister and Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis, the Minister Minister of the Interior Mr. Makis Voridis sent a taped message, the Minister of Citizen Protection Mr. Panagiotis Theodorikakos and the Regional Governor of Attica Mr. Giorgos Patoulis. Also present were Argolis MPs G. Andrianos and A. Poulas, Arkadias MP K. Vlasis, Argolis Deputy Governor D. Schinohoritis, Mayor Nazareth, Deputy Mayors and Municipal Councillors, representatives of Greek Jews and representatives from Israel, representatives of Pontian Associations and Asia Minor.
The Mayor of Argos Mycenae Mr. Dimitris Kamposos in his short speech referred to the twinning that will be completed in the next period with Israel's Jezreel Valley with the aim of developing cooperation between the two municipalities in tourism, trade, rural development, cultural, educational and financial exchanges etc. but also the importance of the monument that was placed in Argos.
"On the occasion of the celebration of this day, we are here for the unveiling of a monument in honor of the Greek victims of the Jewish Holocaust, the Pontian genocide and the Asia Minor Catastrophe. I believe and hope from the bottom of my heart that this monument will be a beacon and a compass for the generations to come, highlighting the memory of these crimes and will be a practical response to late nostalgia for fascist and intolerant theories. It is our duty to keep alive the memory of these victims as well as the crimes committed in these different historical periods with the same starting point, the unceasing hatred" said the Mayor of Argos Mr. Dimitris Kamposos in his speech.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr. Makis Voridis, said in his speech, among other things: "Who would have expected that today we will live such a cruel war with deeply criminal acts against the Ukrainian people which is carried out by another state with an unprovoked attack and a questioning of the borders, which remind us of all that we must highlight today. So if the dangers have not been removed, the dangers in the international environment, it is important that we do what we can to send a very loud and clear message every time: that the international community will never again tolerate such practices and the monument in Argos, it should also remind what should be our ode to all these crimes committed against humanity, never again! never again!"
The event ended with a memorial prayer by the Metropolitan of Argolis, Mr. Nektarios, and the laying of wreaths at the Demokratia Square (popular market square) where the unveiling of the monument took place, while the Panagia Soumela Cultural Association closed the day with the Pyrrhic dance at the monument, moving the attendees.
From Israel they honored with their presence
Mr. Becher Eyal, Mayor of ZESRAEL Valley, of Israel,
Mr. Efi Stenzler International Project Consultant and former Advisor to the Government of Israel & Mayor of Givatayim,
Mr. Avi Rabinovitch International Project Advisor, the former Chief Executive Officer of Israel's Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations
