The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias paid today an informational visit to the 1st Army Command, the European Union Operation Headquarters (EU OHQ) and the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command (HTAF) Headquarters in Larissa.

Mr. Dendias was presented a detailed briefing by the Commander of the 1st Army Command, Lieutenant General Vassilios Tellidis, the Operation Commander for the EU military operation in the Central African Republic, French Major General Philippe Pontiès and the Chief of Staff of the EU OHQ Brigadier General Christos Drivas, as well as by the Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command, Lieutenant General (AF) Christos Vaitsis, respectively.

The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of the HNDGS Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of the HAFGS Lieutenant General (AF) Evangelos Tournas and the Chief of the HAGS Lieutenant General Christos Manolas.

Afterwards, Mr. Dendias went to the National Air Operations Centre, where he was also presented a detailed briefing, he visited the alert crews of the 337th All Weather Squadron, and he was briefed by the Commanders of the 110 Combat Wing (CW) and the 337 Squadron.

During his address to the leaderships of the three major formations, the Minister of National Defence stated, among other things, the following:

“It is a great pleasure for me that, in the context of my briefing, I am here, in Larissa, in the heart of our national defence system.

I had the opportunity to discover, first of all, at the 1st Army Command, the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command and the Hellenic Operation Headquarters of the European Union, that a particularly important task is accomplished and that the Greek people can feel safe. Those who serve at these key posts defend not only our country’s independence and freedom, but also peace and stability in the region. Owing to their mission, Greece is a stabilising agent in a very unstable environment.

I also ascertain, once more, that when some might expect that Greece would lose its spirit and strength due to the financial crisis, the Armed Forces remind all that the country is standing upright and dignified. They also remind that the personnel serving in the A.F. gives his best for the Country, each day.  This great offer is noted and recognised by everyone.

My institutional obligation, as Minister of National Defence, is to work so that the recognition that the Armed Forces’ personnel enjoy today will also have a remunerative attribute, that they will obtain some rectification of their life standards to those before the crisis.

Finally, I had the opportunity, after the complete and detailed briefing I was presented, to congratulate the leadership for their work and to encourage them to carry on exercising their duties with equal devotion, giving an example for the values of duty, pride and hard work to Greek society. The performance of such values in all fields is what the country needs in order for us to stand up once again.

Thank you very much”.