Health minister dismisses Navy cadets’ parade antics as ‘Greek custom’
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has dismissed the antics of a group of Hellenic Navy cadets during Tuesday’s Independence Day parade as being part of an age-old and distinctly Greek (though certainly not exclusively) custom.”
“Since ancient times, warriors have shouted various slogans as part of their battle preparations. These were often mocking and scathing towards the enemy. Ancient texts are filled with examples of such verbal taunts. In this context, the well-known incident the other day falls within this age-old and distinctly Greek (though certainly not exclusively) tradition,” Georgiadis said in a social media post on Thursday.
The incident, which involved a group of cadets from the Navy’s non-commissioned officers’ school chanting nationalist slogans, including “Cyprus is Greek,” has sparked controversy in Greece and drawn criticism from Turkiye.
The government condemned the incident, with a source telling Kathimerini that the official position is “You do not show your strength with slogans.”
An official inquiry has been launched into the incident.
In his social media post, Georgiadis, who is also the vice president of the ruling New Democracy party, went on to suggest that the cadets in question should be treated with leniency, commenting that any punishment, “for whatever diplomatic or disciplinary reasons,” should be of a “symbolic” nature.
“Let’s stop throwing stones at these kids,” he said.
On Wednesday, New Democracy MP Thanos Plevris also spoke in the cadets’ defense, saying that “some rhetorical excess can be justified” given the circumstances under which the incident took place.
“These are the kind of sailors I want on a Belharra frigate – not ones singing ‘The Bees Go Buzzing’ and ‘My Little Pony,’” Plevris told Skai TV. “We’re not going to punish them over a slogan.”
Kathimerini
