The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended the final stage of the Field Exercise “Leonidas of Rhodes” from the Firing-Exercise Range, in Kattavia, Rhodes island, during his visit to the Area of Responsibility of the 95th Higher National Guard Battalions Command.

After the completion of the exercise, he made the following statement:

“We had the opportunity to watch a very impressive exercise which was conducted under realistic conditions so that the capability of the units participating in it would be assessed.

We are all certain that who serves in the Armed Forces, but also the reservists have attended high-level training which they are able to apply practically and give self-confidence and trust to the Greek people.

The exercise was named “Leonidas of Rhodes” after the winner of the Olympic Games who managed to win the stadion, the diaulos and the hoplitodromos on the same day.

And Leonidas of Rhodes achieved this triumph not only once, but in 4 Olympiads in the 2nd century B.C. and this was an unprecedented achievement not only for that time, but for every time as well.

The successful completion of today’s exercise has this symbolism. Despite the adverse financial circumstances which the General described before, the Armed Forces have the will, the strength, and the morale to fulfil any achievement that our country’s security requires.

Moreover, they prove that the money which is invested in the National Defence by the Greek taxpayers at these adverse financial circumstances are properly utilized to enhance our national security, to enhance the sense of security of the Greek people.

Our country, nevertheless, proves every day that it defends the enforcement of the provisions of the International Law.  “Instead of was, let’s choose peace”, as it was written by Thucydides.

But at the same time, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are ready to defend our territorial integrity and our national dignity from every threat with unity and determination.

Thanks to this same determination, Greece remains a factor of stability in the wider region.

We are particularly glad because officers of the Armed Forces of our friendly country of Egypt are present here with us.

I wish to thank, but mostly to congratulate, everybody who planned and participated in this exercise which we watched with great interest. The officers, the NCOs, the privates, they made us absolutely proud and proved what it means to serve one’s duty.

I would like to express my special thanks to our reservists who prove us the broad capabilities of civil defence.

As a conclusion, I wish to reiterate something that I noticed already on one of my first visits to the major formations: thanks to the work of the Armed Forces of our country, to the work of the women and men who serve in them with self-sacrifice, the Greece of honour, eagerness and dignity stands still.

Congratulations and thank you very much.»

The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Giannis Lambropoulos, the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos  and the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General  Christos Manolas.

The following destinations of the visit will be the Defence Command of Meghisti island and the outposts of Stroggyli and Ro islets.