President Karolos Papoulias attended the military parade in Thessaloniki as part of the celebrations for the October 28 national holiday. He appeared confident that Greece would soon overcome the crisis in unity and solidarity.

"It was an excellent parade. It was a message that Greece, the Armed Forces, its people, we are all very strong and we are here to prevent any threat." He spoke of the day of remembrance, of exceptional honour and respect to those who fought in 1940 and overthrew Mussolini’s fascist hordes. They gave Europe a message: that the democratic Europe can prevail and indeed it won.

"Today, the Greek people are struggling under very difficult conditions. I hope that in unity and solidarity, with love for each other, we will unfold the virtues that those who fought and lost their lives in the Albanian mountains had. And if we do so, I am certain that we will overcome the crisis. The crisis will not defeat us."

This was the last parade that Papoulias attended as the President of the Hellenic Republic due to the upcoming presidential elections to be held on February 2015, which will signal the end of his presidential term. 

On his part, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras issued a statement in which he stated that the nation will now be able to move forward, the long-awaited restoration of the economy has been achieved.