Egyptian Hellenism reverently bowed the knee to the dead of the heroic battle of El Alamein, during yesterday's 79th anniversary of the event that marked the beginning of the end of the Italo-German axis and the Second World War. At the Greek Fallen Monument in the Egyptian city, which year by year is turning into a tourist megacity, the entire community of the Nile Country and the diplomatic and consular authorities were present, paying tribute to those who fought and fell for faith and country, as chanted in the touching trisage performed by the Patriarchal Commissioner of Alexandria, Metropolitan of Naukratis, Mr. Narkissos.
Also present was Egypt, which laid a wreath together with all the representatives of Hellenism together with Cyprus, whose citizens also played a decisive role in the battle of El Alamein, with the ambassador Mr. Homeros Mavromatis representing the Republic of Cyprus. The speech of the Greek ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Nikos Garilidis, who has lived as an Egyptian since he was very young at these events in El Alamein, was also moving, with the Greek and Egyptian anthems piercing the sounds of the coastal road and showing the common path that they have now chosen the states that were then rivals and today are allies.
The Greek ambassador characteristically said that "today, the Nations that fought in the legendary battle of El Alamein, the battle that cost so many souls, are allies and partners:they work together to safeguard Peace, Security and Development in a better world". And on this great day for Egyptian Hellenism, with the flags of Greece and Egypt being raised on both sides of the Hellenic Monument, Mr. Garilidis spoke about the example of cooperation that Greece, Cyprus and Egypt are now setting.
"A brilliant example of cooperation in our region is the Tripartite Cooperation of Egypt with Greece and Cyprus. The signing in Athens last Tuesday, of the Memorandum of Understanding for the interconnection of the three countries in the field of Electricity, is an important step for the deepening of this cooperation. of cooperation, which simultaneously guarantees peace, stability and development in our region", emphasized Mr. Garilidis. In fact, borrowing from a phrase of Homer from the Iliad, the Greek ambassador marked this great battle of El Alamein, where "God weighed the opponents and gave victory to the Allies".
And referring with numbers to Greece's contribution to the heroic battle of El Alamein, Mr. Garilidis, who is also an Egyptian, pointed out that "5,500 Greek soldiers took part in the battle, of which 1/5 were Egyptian conscripts but also many volunteers of Cypriot or Dodecanese origin. A significant number of Cypriots had enlisted in the British Army from the start, making up the Cypriot regiment. The Hellenic Fleet sailed in front of the then Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria, in whose building the GEN was installed. The Greek Government in exile, in the building of our Embassy in Cairo".
The two Greek Communities of Alexandria and Cairo and many associations of Egyptian Hellenism gave the honorary attendance at the events, in this magnificent and unnecessary monument, where the inscription "OU ENEKEN ZEIS KE APOTHANEIN MI KATOKNEI" dominates, which means "For what is worth living for , don't even hesitate to die." On behalf of the Greek Community of Alexandria, the community commissioner and former president of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria, Mr. Ioannis Papadopoulos, representing the Cypriot Brotherhood of Alexandria, as the financial supervisor of the historical parish association in question, testified.
The Greek Community of Cairo was represented and laid a wreath by the community commissioner, Mr. Andreas Yosri, and on behalf of the Cypriot Brotherhood of Cairo, Mr. Stefanos Argyriou. The Hellenic Nautical Club of Alexandria and the Association of Greek Scientists of Alexandria "Ptolemy I" were represented and the president of the two Associations, Mrs. Lilika Thlivitou, presented the wreath. The scouts of Alexandria were represented and laid a wreath by the Superintendent of Administration, Mr. Aris Markozanis, in the presence of many scouts from Cairo and Alexandria, as well as students from the historic Greek schools of the two cities.
On behalf of the Averofei Gymnasium and Lyceum of Alexandria, the deputy principal Mrs. Lina Kiropoiou Lina laid a wreath and on behalf of the Pratsikei-Tositsei Primary School, the principal Mr. Konstantinos Rigas. Mr. Giorgos Kokorelis laid a wreath representing the Abeteio School and Mr. Vassilis Lagios representing the Achilopoulio School, Mr. Angelos Athanasoulis as the representative of the Hellenic Alumni Association of the Abeteio School.
The commemorative ceremony was honored with their presence by the consul general of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Athanasios Kotsionis, the consul general of Greece in Cairo, Ms. Maria Zisi, and the Defense Attaché of the Cypriot Embassy in Cairo, lieutenant colonel Engineer, Mr. Konstantinos Chatzikos, while Defense attaché of the Greek Embassy, Captain PN Mr. George Hatzis, was the one who made the touching invitation to the heroes of those Greek heroes, who fell for faith and country, having the general order of the whole event, which was honored again this year by Egyptian Hellenism.
Immediately after the end of the event, delegations from various countries laid a wreath and among them the head of the Political Directorate at the Delegation of the European Union in Cairo Ms. Marina Braila as well as military delegations from Mexico, Brazil, India and Belgium.
SOURCE:N. KATSIKAS