«Your Excellency Mr. President of the Hellenic Republic,

It is a great honour and a special pleasure to welcome you to the National Defence College which is a high-level laboratory for the education of the personnel of the Armed Forces, the Security Corps and the Public Sector in general, on various subjects. This education extends beyond the framework of the Armed Forces nowadays when the endurance of the Public Sector strengthens the defence of our country.

Greece is a country of political stability, an open society with democratic institutions. Its geopolitical location on the crossroad of South-Eastern Europe and the Black Sea, the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean, areas of high strategic significance and of constant changes, as well as its long participation in the  Euro-Atlantic Alliance and the European Union enhance its geostrategic significance and turn it into a “pillar-state” for security, stability and growth throughout the wider area.

In particular, after the latest developments in Northern Africa and the Middle East, Greece is the only country which, at the same time, can talk with Israel and the countries of the Arab world, and have excellent relations with Europe and the Middle East as member of NATO and European Union.

In parallel, however, this geopolitical position of Greece has also negative consequences which torment our country, regarding national matters and sovereignty rights.

Across time, our country has been always demonstrating full respect of International law and, therefore, it demands the International Community to apply this Law without any discriminations and compromises, against and in favour of every country.

Moreover, as a member-state of the European Union, a Union of principles and law, it asks for a total and not selective application of those principles and rules on its national matters as well, with a decisive reaction against any historically unproven claims of our neighbouring countries, against the rise of irredentism and the cynic disregard of key principles of the Charter of the UN and of International Conventions and Treaties.

It should be taken for granted that our Armed Forces, as the only force of deterrence which defends our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, contribute to the prosperity of Greek people in every possible manner.

At the same time, Greece ought to develop all these factors and apply the necessary policies which will allow us to maintain peace, stability and progress for the Greek nation in the next years. And I am stressing this point regarding the Nation because, for all of us, assistance and support of Greek Cypriots is a top priority.

Your Excellency Mr. President,

In particular nowadays, when the security in the surrounding area deals with a great number of interconnected and interactional threats, the Ministry of National Defence considers that the manpower of the Armed Forces is the centre of gravity of our land.

This is the reason why we pay great attention to training and utilizing every training capability whereas, in parallel, we continue finding out solutions for problems faced by the personnel of the Armed Forces and their families, reinforcing their morale so that they continue to fulfil their important mission without any distraction.

Our country’s biggest armament programme is our personnel, our Officers, NCOs, Conscripts, National Guards, as well as the battle worthy Greek people.

As a conclusion, I would like to stress that the students of the National Defence College consider their studies as a national investment and I am certain that they will repay it to their country, which has great expectations from them.

Mr. President I welcome you to the floor”.