06/13/2025 | Press release | Archived content
The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Thanasis Davakis, representing the President of the Hellenic Government Kyriakos Mitsotakis, attended on Friday 13 June 2025 the ceremony for the unveiling of the Headstone in honour of the fallen Greek soldiers and officers who served in Cyprus and the burial of the remains of the hero, Charalambos Samlian, which was held at Keramoti, Kavala.
The Deputy Minister of National Defence accompanied His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, at the place where a memorial service, the unveiling of the monument and a wreath laying ceremony in honour of the fallen soldier Charalambos Samlian were held, in the presence of the Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, representing the Chief HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, and of the Mayor of Nestos Savvas Michailidis.
The ceremony was also honoured by the presence of members of the Parliament, of political parties and representatives from regional and local administration, Officers of the Armed Forces, members of the hero's family, as well as other guests.
In his speech, Mr. Davakis stated:
"Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Ladies and Gentlemen.
A day like today is a day of emotion and honour. It is a special day for the representative of the Hellenic Government and Deputy Minister of National Defence, who attends the unveiling ceremony as a Greek citizen.
In honour of a young man aged 22 years old, who gave his life in Cyprus for the nation and the country's values and ideals. Charalambos Samlian served at the ELDYK camp in Agios Nikolaos - Kakopetria and returns today to his birthplace. Today, at this place, Keramoti receives its worthy child in its bowels.
For 61 years, the Republic of Cyprus guarded this child that lost his life in its service with maternal love. Cyprus has been honouring him all these years and today, delivers his remains to his birthplace, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the political and military leadership of our Armed Forces and the authorities of the Municipality of Nestos.
Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Cyprus, we should like to thank you for the love, support and care you have offered and are still offering to our children, who are also your children; those children who wrote their own story, defending a national territory just like my fellow countrymen, Sotiris Stavrianakos and Ilias Glentzes, which was glorified at the Kodzha Kaya heights.
Moreover, we are honoured by the presence and the initiative of the Cyprus Union of Bank Employees (ETYK) and Nestos Municipality for building this monument to remind the younger people of the self-denial and faith, serving all those years at the "Land of Lemons and Olives".
May you rest in peace, Charalambos, at your birthplace. Your fellow countrymen, your friends, brothers in arms, all those you fought and still fight with you in spirit, would be proud of you.
I feel particularly honoured to see here today the fighters, those who served in Cyprus, who are an example of self-sacrifice and duty to us all, the leadership, the members, the men and women of our Armed Forces.
Thank you".