The Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas, during his visit to Cyprus for the handover of the remains of the fallen officers who were killed on board the patrol boat PHAETHON and their repatriation to Greece, on Monday, 8 February 2018, accompanied by the Deputy Chief of HNGS Rear Admiral Ioannis Paxivanakis who represents the Chief of HNGS, visited the Headquarters of the National Guard and ELDYK Camp. Afterwards, he had consecutive meetings with the Presidential Commissioner on Humanitarian Issues Fotis Fotiou and with the Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Christophoros Fokaides.
The Alternate Minister of National Defence, after his meeting with the Cypriot Commissioner on Humanitarian Issues Fotis Fotiou, mentioned, in his statements, that the issue of the missing “concerns us too and we are responsible not to let it be forgotten until it is definitely solved. He added that it is “a separate humanitarian issue and an issue of human rights”. And he stressed: “We declare that we will utilize every international forum and institution and all the technological developments in order to find answers. Both the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working to put an end to the pain of the parents and the offspring of those heroes who fell for their land”. Regarding tomorrow’s ceremony for the handover of the remains, he stated that it is an official acknowledgement of the historical fact, it is a procedure which began after the confidentiality order to the living commander of FAETHON Mr. Mitsatsos was abolished. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he stressed that 43 years after the invasion it still is an international problem that must be solved, and that Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have gained the acknowledgment of the international community that we are right about it. This is important too because in a short period of time we can make more steps towards its final solution”.
The Alternate Minister of National Defence, after his meeting with the Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides, said that Greece and Cyprus are in an area where instability and threats are rising, but both countries are pillars of stability and peace”. And he noted: “Our efforts for the bilateral cooperation would not be so strong if they did not rely on our brotherly friendship and cooperation. And our cooperation, with Israel and Egypt, as well as with other countries gives a new impetus. Our trilateral cooperations, achieved across time, can consolidate a situation of peace and stability in the area. They can contribute to growth which can be transformed to work posts and political stability. This is what we are working for”. He also referred to the contribution of Greece and Cyprus to the creation of a Permanent Cooperation in the European Union: “PESCO, as it was completed, is an effort that was born – and we participated too – within a European framework; it is the expression of strengthening the dual role industry and the step by which this industry helps an integral defence policy of the European Union, characterized by two elements, autonomy and complementarity in relation with NATO”.
Tomorrow, Tuesday 9 January 2018, the handover ceremony of the remains will take place in St. Constantine and St. Helen’s cemetery. And afterwards, a special transport aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force will transfer them to Greece. On the evening of the same day the repatriation ceremony will take place in St. Demetrius’ Church, Palaskas Training Centre. The fallen of PHAETHON, six Greeks and one Cypriot, lost their lives in Xeros Harbour, in August 1964, during the bombing of Tillyria by the Turkish air force.
