K. Sakellaropoulou: Mass vaccination is the most effective defense

“Mass vaccination is our most powerful weapon to defeat the virus. Adherence to health measures is the responsibility of the State, but also ours. It concerns our social and individual ethics, focusing on respect for the neighbor and the common good. “, among other things, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, states in her message for the new year.

“2021 was a difficult year for our country and for the whole world. The pandemic continues to hurt us and suspend the normalcy of our lives. The National Health System is facing its limits, in exceptional and unpredictable situations, as the However, we must not forget that we are not alone or unprotected. Mass vaccination is the most effective defense, especially against the severe and dangerous form of the disease. The ability of doctors and nurses to provide us with their valuable services. It is our most powerful weapon to defeat the virus. Adherence to health measures is the responsibility of the State, but also ours. with a focus on respect for the neighbor and the general good “, says the President of the Republic and continues.

“We live in an age of inexhaustible potential, but also of painful oppositions. The horizons of our freedom are widening and the pace of life is constantly accelerating. The digital transformation of society removes territorial constraints and frees services and global networks of education and work “It creates new forms of sociability and intimacy. We participate in a demanding environment of multiple choices and social mobility. In conditions of cosmopolitanism that produce unprecedented challenges, experiences and opportunities and consolidate a common, almost universal, way of life,” said Ms. Sakellaropoulou.

“At the same time, however, inequalities are sharpening and our certainties are being shaken. The economic crisis has tested the state’s resources and our material resilience, especially of the most vulnerable groups. Increased flows of migrants and refugees have caused particular tensions in the European Union.” The catastrophic fires of the summer, in Greece and throughout the Mediterranean, have demonstrated the urgency of managing climate change. made us realize the path we still have to take to achieve gender equality, despite the progress and prestige of women.

In the insecurity of the times, our democracy opposes its historical depth and coherence. Her unwavering reference to the identity and values ​​that founded our nation. The return, 200 years later, to the Revolution of 1821 and the birth moment of the modern Greek State, reminded us of the inexhaustible power of unity and solidarity, which in defiance of any adversity justifies the Greeks over time. Our European acquis, the undisputed position of our country among the most advanced countries on the planet, is the strongest guarantee of stability and prosperity. On national issues, we remain fully committed to defending our sovereignty and sovereign rights and unwavering in the face of Turkish aggression. In good cooperation with its partners, Greece actively participates in the planning of international policies and undertakes initiatives for the economic recovery in the pandemic, the immigration and refugee issue, the protection of the environment.

Our country is a society of high expectations, open and inclusive. A community of equal freedom, without discrimination and exclusion. It is in this solid soil that our great prospects take root and grow. Utilizing our institutional tradition and leaving what held us back. The Greeks follow and co-shape the strong current of change of the 21st century. 2022 will be a year of optimism and uplift. I wish you a happy new year, with health and happiness! “, The President of the Republic concludes.