On Wednesday 1 September 2021, the handover ceremony between the previous Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Alkiviadis Stefanis and the new Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikos Chardalias was conducted at the premises of the Ministry of National Defence, in the presence of the Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos.

The ceremony was attended by the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros, the Secretary General Mr Antonios Oikonomou, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Charalambos Laloussis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis and the Deputy Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Petros Chatziris.

The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos stated the following in his address:

“Good morning everyone and let us have a good month. We have never been-I personally-in a similar position in the last two years, but I guess there is a first time for everything and I really have a hard time to put my thoughts and words in order, so that I can speak of two persons whom I worked with, either in the context of the structure of the Ministry of National Defence political leadership and I refer to the Deputy Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis, or in the context of the wider cooperation that we developed very intensively with the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection and I refer of course to Nikos Chardalias.

Developments were such, that today Mr Chardalias takes the office of the Deputy Minister of National Defence, succeeding Mr Alkiviadis Stefanis. The active, with dramatic alternations and developments, almost everyday, political life involves such things and I would say these things are usual. It is a fact that for two years now, Mr Alkiviadis Stefanis and I developed an extremely close cooperation, under hard conditions, as the political leadership of the Ministry, to cope with the arising challenges. Challenges that we did not seek, but all the same, we were called to manage and we did, I believe, at a very satisfying level.

At the same time, we had to ensure the unhindered command of a big Ministry, participating in whole even in social life, and to organise and implement the next day for the Armed Forces, through a very intensive programme of reforms mostly and interventions mainly with regard to Armaments. Regarding this issue, we had the full support of the Military Leadership, through the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros and the Chiefs of Staffs, and throughout the course there was that feeling and I think it was evident, pointing outwards, to every direction, that the effort and its outcome had to do with group work.

During this course we did not agree on everything, but at the end, we always agreed on what had to be done. To present views in order to find the best solution, but also to be a creative and useful part of the whole procedure. What I would personally dislike is to say “yes” to everything and move on, instead of hearing views, composing views, continue our effort, in order to achieve the best result and concerning all this, I would say that Alkiviadis Stefanis played a very catalytic and critical role.

From my experience with him I was taught an unquenched passion for work, I experienced a continuous mobility and also an apparent love for the Armed Forces and the country, and I would say, I tried to follow his pace regarding this part. I consider we succeeded. In life, no matter your qualifications, possibilities, prerequisites, you should display respective passion while trying. If abilities and talent combine with passion, then I believe the result will be the ideal one.

I would like to thank Alkiviadis Stefanis for everything he offered to the Ministry and remind him that for two years he has been a member of the political system and this cycle goes on. Here, we experience a stop in this cycle, but the cycle is evolving and I believe it has not been closed at all; to the contrary, it is evolving and it goes on. But this is not an issue to refer to now. Mr Stefanis knows very well how to balance the next steps in a course that I characterise as extraordinary, as this is his favourite expression for that matter. I really thank him and I believe I express the opinion not only of all the people in the Ministry of National Defence, but of the Armed Forces as well.

These two years were not easy, but those who have some experience in politics know that things change, they change dramatically, possibly from one day to another, but what matters is the duration, development and course. So, I consider that Alkiviadis Stefanis course is not over, to the contrary it is evolving. I wish him all the best, it was an honour serving with him, if you allow me this expression, here, together these two years, we accomplished plenty and at a personal level, I can say that you can feel that you made another friend, who will stand by you, with regard to every matter, even an advisory one, to the next steps of your course. I wish you success in everything and besides, I am certain, that with the package, if you like, of possibilities and abilities that you proved to possess, at least to me, other successes will follow too. Regarding Mr Nikos Chardalias, I will just say, or rather continue the comments from a previous post concerning a small mishap with his health, that I consider him a tough fighter; he proved that under unprecedented crises management conditions, hard, intensive circumstances and a relatively new background, through the cooperation we developed as a Ministry with the Secretariat General and then with the Deputy Ministry of Civil Protection; I am certain that he enters a field, in which he can function as before, he can contribute as before and he can join this group, to have the best possible result.

You know, the fighting spirit and the fighter’s ability, as I had the opportunity to refer to the day before yesterday in Sparta, inspired by something I read, is not only for the time of the battle; the fighter is like that throughout his life, because he has been trained to follow the path of the fighter, the path of the warrior, and may be, the person who fights throughout his life without engaging in a military conflict, I would say, is more worthy than the one who engages in a battle momentarily, because it is a matter of awareness and training, but this is an inborn talent, as we commonly say. Mr Chardalias has this quality and since I believe that here we are a group of fighters struggling for a cause that we have all embraced and serve, he will be another useful member for us.

Nikos Chardalias, welcome to the Ministry of National Defence and I wish you smooth working conditions and to be strong. Deputy Minister, be strong, I wish you to keep going and the only sure thing is that there will be continuity.

Next, the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros stated the following in his address:

“On behalf of the Military leadership, on behalf of the Chiefs of General Staffs, me personally of course and all of the army as well, I would like to thank the departing Deputy Minister Mr Stefanis for the outstanding cooperation, the advices, the directions and everything we did together as you said Minister and thank him for everything and personally wish him to keep going in his course and to the new Minister Mr Chardalias, also on behalf of the Military Leadership and the Chiefs of Staffs, to welcome him, to wish him to be strong, to have God’s help and to fulfill his mission successfully.

Thank you”.

Next, the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Mr Antonios Oikonomou stated the following in his address:

“My friend Alkis, and believe me the word “friend” is a word that I really give credit for and I do not use lightly; the year 2013 was the first time we met, you, as I recall, a Brigadier General and I holding the same office. From that time we had a cooperation and this relation between us was developed, which started based on your vast experience in the army, my search for military matters back then, ignorance I would say on my behalf, and step by step we have developed this relation and friendship.

This relation continued after 2015 in my home, when I left and you moved forward, because you are worth it, after your tour of duty at Thessaloniki C Army Corps, we kept this relation going. We have dreamed, made plans, travelled and God and fate drove us here, at the same spot, which I had left in 2015 and we are moving on together.

The Minister characteristically stated that your efficiency is justified by your experience in military matters and your great love for the army and the country.

To me, you have been a role model on this matter; I have never witnessed such a great devotion to the country and the military life. I was always teasing you for such a devotion to the military way of living, like a Spartan, and I am afraid that you will follow the same course in your civilian life, which has a lot of chapters and many new ones.

I wish better things are presented, I believe you are capable on whatever you decide to do. I will always stand by you as ever and I only wish you good health for the rest of your life; in life everything is possible, everything comes and goes.

I am certain that you will make the right decision. Everything will be fine, thanks a lot for your advices, with me holding this office or not, always asking about military matters, I was seeking your opinion. I hope you keep on advising us, me, and thanks a lot for everything”.

Next, the departing Deputy Minister of National Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis stated the following in his address:

“Good morning and let us have a good month.

I will start with two words: mission accomplished.

I believe this from the bottom of my heart and it was accomplished with passion, hard work, vision and love for the country.

The mission was accomplished with composition of opinions, persuasion, with harmony and always with respect to the domestic matters of the Armed Forces and the nature of the mission accomplished these two years.

I start with the greatest success that our country achieved, I believe, in the last years, which is our accomplishment in Evros. We managed to change the given situation both in the interior of the country and in Europe. We managed to make Europe understand that the problem we had been facing with our neighbours was not a Greek-Turkish problem, but it was in general a violation problem on behalf of Turkey against the rules of International Law. Next, the medical crisis appeared and once again the Armed Forces’ involvement was outstanding. The Aegean crisis followed and once again the deterrent power of the Armed Forces served as a catalyst. The climate crisis came next and the Armed Forces were once again present.

I believe an extremely successful cycle is closing; it is successful because these two years we presented something else, we conducted extended outreach activities and a great contribution of the Armed Forces to the Greek society in simple terms, in the everyday things we do, so that the Greek citizens throughout Greece felt our presence.

A playground in the Diapondian islands for the three children living there, a multiple purpose facility on Agios Efstratios, the road construction and their help in the Museum of Democracy, on Chalki, Tilos, Symi, Kastelorizo and now an ATM on Gavdos. On Kasos, the student who was admitted to the Informatics Department through the contribution of the Armed Forces. There is no place without the presence of the Armed Forces and no doubt they feel the love and recognition of the Greek society. During these crises periods the leadership was visible and available and we are everywhere, assisting the Greek society.

How were all these achieved? Because the things we achieved in these two years were not easy. The Minister described some components and I always hear him express this view which I also acknowledge and embrace, that this is achieved and truly has been achieved only through group work, hard work, working 20 hours a day, as I usually say, using all 24 hours for thinking and analysis. With an extraordinary staff, an extraordinary Leadership, both in our Ministry and in the Armed Forces, and of course, something we have been claiming for a long time in the Ministry, with Interministerial cooperation.

There is no Ministry that we have not cooperated with to achieve some goals, getting love and respect from the other Ministries regarding our work and we reciprocate.

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the following individuals: first her Excellency Madam President of the Hellenic Republic, who, from the first moment of her capacity as the Chief of the Armed Forces, embraced the Armed Forces and me personally, with great respect. The Prime Minister for his choice to appoint me as Deputy Minister of National Defence, he made three cabinet reshuffles and I remained here. I believe the cycle has been closed successfully as I said and a change should occur and I completely agree with that.

The President of the Parliament, who along with the Parliament never stopped supporting us with money and materials and with his presence as well; the Ministers and Deputy Ministers for the outstanding cooperation we had and one of them is of course the dear friend Mr Nikos Chardalias. The Chairmen of the two Committees of the Parliament Mr Gioulekas and Mr Davakis and the members of the Committee, because every time we visited the Committees with the Minister, they all supported, beyond any partisan antagonism, the work of the Armed Forces.

The Minister, for whom I would like to parenthetically say that we must be and feel very lucky to have this, allow me the expression, man as Minister of National Defence. He respects the Armed Forces, he loves the Armed Forces, he honours each one of you separately and he always had in his mind the thought of finding a way to offer help. To find a way to offer help, which many times personally harmed him, something not usually seen in the years we served in the Armed Forces. The Minister used the word “friend”. This is my feeling too. I feel it with great love. I would also like to especially thank Mr Valaris. His presence in the Ministry’s affairs serves as a catalyst. He is a man who loves the Minister and supports him and always, everything he does, is based on the love for the country, because he comes from the Armed Forces. I would like to thank him for his friendship and the aid he offered me.

The Secretary General who is a true friend as he said, with whom our relation has moved forward to other levels and I thank him for the support.

Now, I will speak of the Military Leadership, the Chief of HNDGS, with whom, due to our acquaintance, we engaged in severe disputes and this is logical and it should be so. It is impossible for two people, who love the Armed Forces, to lack opinion or to not express it. Besides, we know each other for years. We had our opinions, we debated, but we always found a common solution for the sake of the country. I respect his work, I respect it deeply and also his firmness regarding the management of the Armed Forces; we have only witnessed good things this period.

Regarding the Chiefs, I cannot make any distinctions, though within me, due to the 41 years of Army service, I tend to have a preference for the Army.

I respect and bow with respect before the dead and the flags of all three Services and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything they do. Before I speak of my Directors, I would like to thank the Press. You always stand by our side and present our action the right way and please convey my warm thanks to all who are not present today.

My two Directors and the staff of my office. These two years they acted with tremendous passion and love for their work. The military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces, to whom I pay my respects for the produced work. The Greek society and its people; the messages received yesterday were thousands, messages of love and devotion, some of them stating that the Aegean islands lost their protector. Certainly, they did not lose their protector, the Armed Forces are the protector of the Aegean islands and they will continue to be the protector of the Aegean and also myself, since I keep on loving the country with the same strength.

I was touched yesterday evening by the Mayor of Symi, who called to tell me that on 18 September a ceremony will take place to proclaim me a distinguished citizen and they are expecting me with even greater pleasure.

I would like to convey two messages to all of us: we must not forget our starting point, it is important to remember where we started from, it defines our course. Second, we must not forget that we are always accountable. Accountable to our partners, accountable to the staff with which we communicate and above all accountable to the Greek people, whom we serve and for whom we always try to do our best.

We serve the Greek people and we are obligated to do it in the best possible way. I would like to wish the Deputy Minister Mr Chardalias, from the bottom of my heart, strength and good health. He has the passion, he has the abilities and I am certain that very soon he will become a member of the Armed Forces, because he possesses all these traits. He is an active person, a competent person, a person who loves the country, a person who, I may say, matches me in working hours, a person I consider a friend and may God keep him safe.

Concluding, what stands out is the most important victories of this period, this cycle, the Evros victory; the same thing was expressed by the Prime Minister in the press conferences he delivered these two years. This is very important. It has changed society’s posture and we conveyed optimism to the Greek society.

Second, our contribution to the everyday life of the Greek society stands out. Third, the numerous enormous projects we performed this period under the direction of the Minister and of course all those projects scheduled for the future. Mission accomplished, I feel great and I keep on having vision, will and of course endless love for the country.

I deliberately left my family out of this. My family has nothing to do with that. They know my affection and devotion to them. I wish the Deputy Minister to be strong; I wish all of you to be well, good morning”.

Next is the address of the Deputy Minister of National Defence who takes over, Mr Nikos Chardalias:

“You know Minister, in my life I have chosen to always be very sincere. So, the first thing I wish to confess is that I stand here today, extremely embarrassed, but with a special feeling of responsibility and duty in this appointment ceremony of my new duties.

The second thing I would like to say is that the feeling of duty remains extremely unique with regard to succeeding a person, whose legacy of devotion and duty is unique, and I do not say this conventionally, just because I attend this ceremony. I had the opportunity to cooperate with the Deputy Minister under hard conditions, under extremely harsh coincidences and circumstances, and I think I am looking forward to his advice, contribution, experience and guidance, to be able to keep the closed cycle going under equal terms, in a unique endeavour.

Deputy Minister, I would like to thank you for this cooperation. I know that the range of these initiatives and worries, which along with the Minister and our Chiefs shared under hard conditions, has not been made known to the public; you have mentioned a lot about the pandemic and operation “Freedom”, as well as the climate conditions which look unprecedented to the Greek society, the country and the whole world. I do not wish to say more; I want, Minister, Deputy Minister, Mr General Secretary, Chief of HNDGS, Chiefs of Staffs, to assure you from the bottom of my soul and heart, that I will work hard by your side, to be worthy first and foremost of the Prime Minister’s trust, but also of the responsibilities of the assignment that I undertake.

Friend Alkis, Deputy Minister, I wish you success, a lot of strength, and I want to assure you that I will give my best to be worthy of the portfolio you are handing over to me”.