The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias represented today, Saturday 11 November 2023, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Government, in the celebrations for Chios’ 111 th anniversary of Liberation.

The Chios MPs Panagiotis Mitarakis and Stavros Michailidis, the MP of State Panagiotis Doudonis, as representative of the President of PASOK – Movement for Change Nikos Androulakis, the Head of the North Aegean Region Konstantinos Moutzouris and the Mayor of Chios Stamatis Karmantzis attended the celebrations.

Other attendants were the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Sotirios Postakoglou, as Representative of the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros and the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Angelos Choudeloudis, the Commander of the 96 Higher National Guard Battalions Command Brigadier General Charalambos Abatzidis, the Commander of the Chios Naval Station

Commander Ilias Revinthis, as representative of the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis, the Regional Commander of the North Aegean Fire Services Fire Brigadier Panagiotis Kypriotellis, the Alternate Director of the Chios Police Directorate Police Chief Ioannis Arabatzis, the Central Harbour-master of Chios, Commander of the Port Authority – Coastguard Panteleimon Vatousis and other members of the Armed and Security Forces. 

Parties’ representatives, regional and municipal councillors, representatives of the Aegean University, of Retired Officers Associations, of Reserves Associations and of the local authorities also attended the celebrations. 

Mr Dendias attended the Doxology at the Holy Metropolitan Church of the Saints Minas, Victor and Vikentios, officiated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Bishop of Chios, Psara and Inousses Mr Markos. 

A memorial service at the site of the Fallen Memorial and wreath-laying by the Minister of National Defence were conducted afterwards.

Subsequently, Mr Dendias observed the march of the 96 Higher National Guard Battalions Command detachments, as well as of its Army Band, of Members of the National Guard, of students of the primary and secondary education, of students of the Merchant Marine Academy of Engineers on Chios, of members of associations etc. After the end of the march, the Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

"Today we celebrate a significant moment in our national history, the anniversary of the liberation of Chios. It is a great honour and joy for me to represent the Hellenic Government, but I can also say the Greek society as a whole, in this great anniversary. An anniversary celebrated by our homeland’s armed forces, who along with the Chios’ youth marched earlier before us. 
I would like to assure the inhabitants of this beautiful island about the steadfast intention of the Hellenic Government to support Chios. And when I say support, I do not only mean financial support, but of course, first and foremost, support for the sovereignty and the sovereign rights. Allow me to take this opportunity to say that certain claims regarding the Eastern Aegean
islands supposedly being situated on the Asian Continental Shelf, are legally paradoxical and peculiar. Chios, just like all of our islands, enjoys the rights vested by the International
Law and the International Law of the Sea, meaning Continental Shelf, exclusive economic zone and territorial waters up to 12 miles.

Furthermore, I would like to say that the Hellenic Republic has a constitutional duty to defend these rights, which no Hellenic Government is ever going to forego. 
Today we are also celebrating another anniversary, the anniversary of the ending of World War I. And allow me to say on this occasion, that also in this great war, this great conflict, Greece stood by the side of Law and the side of the victors.  Many happy returns to Chios, where its three patron saints celebrate!  Many happy returns to all the Greeks!  I wish you the best”. 
 

Finally, Mr Dendias visited the POLEMISTIS Gunboat at the Port of Chios, where he was briefed by its Commander Lieutenant Commander Rodamanthys Vaskakis on its mission.