On Friday, June 3, 2016, the Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas awarded the insignia to the students of the 68th Class of the National Defence College in a ceremony held at the Armed Forces Officers Club. The ceremony was also attended by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis and the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Georgios Giakoumakis, as well as by representatives of the Hellenic Parliament and of political parties.

In his address, the Alternate Minister stressed the following:

“I feel particularly pleased to have the opportunity today to attend, along with the Command, the training personnel and the trainees of the National Defence College, the graduation ceremony of the 68th Class.

The National Defence College does an excellent job regarding the education of personnel of the Armed Forces, of the Security Services and of the Civil Service in general in various fields. It is undoubtedly a tool for the evolution of Senior Officers into modern operational leaders with joint consciousness and a global perception of the modern geopolitical environment. It provides high level education and, in parallel, it offers the trainees high level academic knowledge focusing mainly on matters of international relations, geostrategy, geopolitics and geoeconomy aiming at the awareness of the modern security and defence environment.

Through a long and multifaceted educational and professional experience, each of you has today the knowledge that will allow him to manage and complete successfully the job and the mission that he will be assigned to.

The Minister of National Defence strongly believes that the manpower of the Armed Forces is the main force and the most important element of our country since they are the safeguard of our country’s territorial integrity and national independence.

Moreover, the role of the Higher Military Colleges is important for the reinforcement of the relations of Greek officers with their counterparts of friendly and allied countries, who graduate from them.

Among us, we have today our brother Cypriot graduates, as well as officers from Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina whom – I would like them to know it – we consider as permanent representatives of Greece’s friendship to their countries. I wish and I hope that the bonds of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding that they developed with their Greek fellow students will be maintained for long.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We live in a world full of challenges, yet opportunities as well, mostly aiming at global peace and the promotion of international cooperation, development and security. Our country’s geopolitical position has always been a key element in our defence and foreign policy. Today, our country faces huge challenges and we ought to ensure the national defence and stability in this area; to manage the challenges with strategy, perspective and calmness of mind.

In this effort, the Armed Forces played and play an important role. Because, without powerful Armed Forces that guarantee our country’s external security, it is not possible for the proper conditions of social and financial growth in our country to develop.

Acknowledging once more that the soul of our national defence is the Armed Forces’ personnel, I am sure that all of you, the graduates of the National Defence College, see your studies as a national investment which you must respect and reciprocate to your country that has great expectations.

In the end, I would like to congratulate you again on your graduation and wish you and your families health and prosperity”.