Honourable senators, every year many countries acknowledge the day that celebrates the independence of Greece. On the symbolic date of March 25, in 1821, a series of uprisings culminated in a national rebellion by the Greeks against the Ottoman Empire. For 400 years the Greek people had barely existed under the oppressive Ottoman regime. Democracy was shackled and freedom was trampled.

As was the practice, and continues to be the practice in many extremist Muslim countries, the Ottomans tolerated the Christians but reduced them to the status of second-class citizens. During four hard centuries, the Greeks were subjected to extortion, excessive taxation and the occasional mass slaughter.

The high point of the Ottoman cruelty was the child tax imposed on the Greeks and other Christians of the empire. This was a practice wherein the Ottomans recruited — demanded, really — the best and brightest children from Christian families and forced them to convert to Islam. These children, mostly males, were then trained in the sultan's civil service or as elite fighters.

The trade in human traffic — as we observe with the exploitation of refugees by Ankara — remains a feature of Turkey, the successor of the Ottoman regime. The litany of cruelties that were inflicted on the Greeks and other Christians by capricious sultans and Turkish governors is long. As the empire declined, the situation became intolerable.

The eventual struggle for independence, which lasted nearly a decade, saw the Greek rebels fight an uneven battle against an empire with large armies and battle fleets. Yet, despite the onslaught of the Ottoman forces and the incredible acts of retribution inflicted against the Greek civilians, they survived; and by surviving, they earned the admiration of the civilized world.

In response to the Ottoman threats of depopulating Southern Greece, the British, French and Russians destroyed the Ottoman fleet Navarino. Remarkably, this was the first attempt of peacemaking, and it is a lesson for us that in certain circumstances it is right to intervene and stop genocide.

The victory of the allies did not end the war, but it gave the Greeks the opportunity to reorganize and eventually triumph, thus preserving the oldest and richest civilization known to man. The success of the Greek War of Independence is a testament to the courage and determination of a people fighting for the right to be free. It remains a powerful example today and an inspiration for subjugated people to break the chains of slavery and secure their own freedom.

On the eve of this celebration of Greek independence, I would like to take this opportunity to extend the warmest of wishes to members of the Hellenic community across Canada and around the world.

Thank you.