The Christmas Carols were played in the presence of the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, by the Joint Military Band Section at the entrance of the Ministry of National Defence.

The Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Alkiviadis Stefanis, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General (HAF) Christos Christodoulou, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kampas, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis HN, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General (HAF) Georgios Blioumis.

The Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

“Many happy returns to all Greece; I wish that, by the end of this year, we shall look towards the future with optimism and vigor.

We need to try at all levels; we need discretion, and we also need an extra something, to which I refer every time I address the Armed Forces’ personnel, praising their effort, sense of duty and professionalism.

Many happy returns. May this holiday become a new beginning”.

Afterwards, Mr. Panagiotopoulos received in his office for carols and exchange of wishes the Joint Choir of the Armed Forces, the HNDGS Special Regiment, the HAGS Choir, the HNGS and HAFGS Bands, the Military Association of Greek reservists, the Down Syndrome Association of Greece, the Children Choir of the Municipal Conservatory of Glyfada, the Volunteer Group “Romion Praxeis” and the Euxinus Club of Episkopi Nasoussa.

In the end, the Minister and the Military Leadership exchanged wishes with the military and civilian personnel of the MOD at a special celebration which took place at the HNGS Terrace.