“My appointment in the political leadership of the Armed Forces by the Prime Minister, Mr. Antonis Samaras, is the greatest honour for me. I will try to respond to it with the valuable contribution of the military leadership of the Armed Forces.

I know that, despite the financial problems caused by the six years’ crisis, the Armed Forces, thanks to the efforts of the government and of my predecessor, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, of the Alternate Minister, Mrs. Fofi Gennimata and of the Deputy Minister, Mr. Ioannis Lambropoulos, but mostly thanks to the strength of their personnel, they preserve their battle-worthiness at a very high level.

I fully realize the size of the financial sacrifices which the Armed Forces personnel had to go through. The will expressed by the government which also agrees with my intention, as far as I can, is to restore, as far as possible, these sacrifices.

I also know very well that I take office in the Ministry of National Defence under extremely critical and delicate circumstances. Everybody is aware of the recent facts.

It is obvious that the security environment in our wider region is more fragile than ever and that the risks are many and often unpredictable.

At these critical circumstances, Greece tries to remain an oasis of stability in the wider region and to continue defending our cultural values and the principles of democracy.

We send, therefore, a message to everybody that Greece holds an olive branch in the one hand and that it not only wants, but also aims at the peaceful coexistence with every people, mostly with the peoples of our region.

At the same time, though, we send the message that, except the olive branch, Greece holds also a sword; a sword of justice, yet a sword. With unanimity and national unity we will not allow anybody to threaten our territorial integrity or to offend the Greek people and their historical values.

With these thoughts I would like to wish a good cooperation to the rest of the members of the political leadership, Ms. Gennimata and Mr. Lambropoulos, to the Chief of HNDGS, General Kostarakos and to all military leaders, but mostly to the personnel of the Armed Forces and the young conscripts of the Greek society.

I am sure that with your will and with your high strength we will altogether respond to our national duties.

Thank you very much”.