The Greek Ambassador to Turkey and EMAK-EKAV were awarded today by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their contribution to the rescue efforts following the powerful earthquake on February 6 that killed more than 50,000 people.

At a special ceremony in Ankara, President Erdogan presented Thomas Krikelis, representative of the Greek rescue team of Pirago, who was accompanied by Greek Ambassador Christodoulos Lazaris, with a medal of honor.

The Turkish President also presented the Greek Ambassador and the Greek Embassy with a plaque of honor, thanking them for their decisive contribution to the rescue efforts.

Presentation of the State Medal of Turkey for the highest sacrifice to the Greek rescue team through its representative fire chief Thomas Krikellis by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Erdogan in the presence of the Greek Ambassador to Turkey Christodoulos Lazaris. pic.twitter.com/MouqYr3ZCz

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“Today, we are awarding medals to domestic and foreign search and rescue teams that made victims during the earthquakes on February 6,” Erdogan said at the ceremony.

Emphasizing that the twin earthquake was one of the “most devastating” natural disasters not only for Turkey, but also in human history, Erdogan added: “We don’t want anyone else to go through what we went through.”

Erdogan said 11,320 rescuers from 90 countries arrived in Turkey after the earthquakes, while 60 countries and international organizations sent about 250,000 tents to accommodate the victims, stressing: “We know all our true friends.”

Source: APE-MPE, Anadolu.