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Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has dismissed the antics of a group of Hellenic Navy cadets during Tuesday\u2019s Independence Day parade as being part of an age-old and distinctly Greek (though certainly not exclusively) custom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 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,\u201d Georgiadis said in a social media post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The incident, which involved a group of cadets from the Navy\u2019s non-commissioned officers\u2019 school chanting nationalist slogans, including \u201cCyprus is Greek,\u201d has sparked controversy in Greece and drawn criticism from Turkey.<\/p>\n
The government condemned the incident, with a source telling Kathimerini that the official position is \u201cYou do not show your strength with slogans.\u201d<\/p>\n
An official inquiry has been launched into the incident.<\/p>\n
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, \u201cfor whatever diplomatic or disciplinary reasons,\u201d should be of a \u201csymbolic\u201d nature.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s stop throwing stones at these kids,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, New Democracy MP Thanos Plevris also spoke in the cadets\u2019 defense, saying that \u201csome rhetorical excess can be justified\u201d given the circumstances under which the incident took place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the kind of sailors I want on a Belharra frigate \u2013 not ones singing \u2018The Bees Go Buzzing\u2019 and \u2018My Little Pony,\u2019\u201d Plevris told Skai TV. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to punish them over a slogan.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n