The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias paid a visit to the Fleet Headquarters, Salamis Naval Base, where he attended a thorough briefing on the Fleet’s mission, activities and operational capabilities.

Afterwards, Mr. Dendias visited the ship-building works base which is located within the Salamis Naval Base in order to be briefed about the maintenance and modernization programme for units of the Hellenic Navy.

He also visited the submarine “Papanikolis”, the missile boat “Daniolos” and the Frigate “Spetsae”.

The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of Fleet Vice Admiral Panagiotis Litsas.

After the completion of his visit, Mr. Dendias addressed the journalists with the following statement:

“Chiefs,

Dear officers, NCOs and seamen,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I noticed the emblem of the Hellenic Navy which bears an inscription of the political legacy inherited to the Greek people by the most eminent leader of classical Athens, Pericles. This inscription is: “It is a great matter to rule the sea” and it refers to the historic victory of ancient Greeks against the Persians on the island we are today, Salamis, under the orders of Themistocles.

Since September 22, 480 B.C. there have been 25 centuries of travelling at the sea of history, but the Greeks are still here giving the same message. Ruling the sea is great, in both its military and financial aspects.
As I realize after the briefings and my personal meeting with the leadership, as well as with the personnel of the Fleet Headquarters and of the Salamis Naval Base, the Hellenic Navy is still a strong instrument for the deterrence of any threat against our country’s sovereignty rights and independence.

I must congratulate both the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of Fleet Vice Admiral Panagiotis Litsas on their comprehensive and thorough briefing they presented me, as well as on their operational readiness, activities and programming of the Hellenic Navy.

The year 2014 is an important year for the Hellenic Navy and the Armed Forces. After the coordinated action by the political and military leadership, Antonis Samaras’ government proved that it has the will and strength to promote reforms, to solve Gordian knots which survive for long and to correct distressing situation which none dared to change before.

An issue that pended for many years was the one regarding the submarines, on which a collective consideration and work was conducted under the guidance of my predecessor, Dimitris Avramopoulos. The Fleet is enhanced by the first super-modern conventional 214 type submarine, “Pipinos”, whereas the project of modernization and operational enhancement of the 209 type submarine, “Okeanos”, was completed successfully.

In the case of the submarines I have to make a special reference also to the employees of the shipyards who worked with professionalism and devotion to the national objective for which the Hellenic Navy assumed to complete this work.

The Hellenic Navy gives its reply to the challenges of our times with facts, concrete results and thanks to its excellent personnel.

This is the best example we can draw from the Armed Forces to overcome any dilemma and any crisis: hard work, national unity, loyalty to realistic objectives.

Today, we can be more optimistic for a more hopeful future with full respect for the transparency and the need for a rational management of Greek taxpayers’ money who supported and support the Armed Forces amid a financial crisis with vast sacrifices.

Allow me again to congratulate the military leadership on its excellent work having its duty and patriotism as its main concern. Thanks to you too, the Greece of honour, earnestness and dignity stands still.

Thank you.”