“It is a special moment for me and a great honour to be with you today, on board this historic armoured cruiser “AVEROF”, the ship whose name has been related to the naval history and freedom of our country.

At times of financial crisis, admiral Kountouriotis with the cruiser “AVEROF” liberated the island of the Eastern Aegean Sea.

In the context of the international shipping Exhibition “Poseidonia 2016” the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff and I decided to proceed to the organization of this small event in order to deepen the historic relation between the Hellenic Navy and the Merchant Marine.

I ought to say that I am particularly pleased, since I have served as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Merchant Marine over the period 2007-2009 and my bonds with the Merchant Marine, our sailors and the sea are unbreakable and derive mainly from personal experience.

We all know that the Hellenic Navy and the Merchant Marine, since the birth of our nation until today, have responded excellently to Greek people’s expectations and, particularly nowadays, they optimize the significance of the Greek geographic space, being thus the comparative and strategic advantage of our land.

Besides, the history of the Greek people is directly connected to the development of naval forces. Nobody has ever expressed it better than Themistocles who said: “We have land and country when we have ships at sea”. We have ships at sea today too. Our Hellenic Navy – on this very day an exercise conducted all over the Aegean Sea is underway – as well as our Merchant Marine remains the main actor within the global shipping community.

Greece has always been and will be a naval force with a huge and glorious naval tradition in both the Hellenic Navy and the Merchant Marine. Our country’s merchant marine has interests spread all over the seas of the earth, which it will never compromise. If we relate all this to the history of the Greeks we will realize to what extent it is connected not only with our history, but with our prosperity, security and our nation’s very existence as well.

I remind you that on our merchant ships, the Greek flag is waving all over the world which makes the support of our merchant marine imperative for our national survival and prospect.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The strategy of a state that is the rational definition of its vital interests in relation to security issues and its fundamental purposes is a product of long lasting conscious national choice.

The cornerstone of the Greek strategy is mostly the establishment of a sea strategy which will include the military vessels and the manpower of our merchant marine, the existent sea infrastructure and the exploitation of undersea resources.

Shipping inherent in Greeks’ character has always been part of our DNA. The Greek shipping survives despite the adversities of any kind, because the Greek expertise in shipping always exists. Officers, NCOs and seamen of our Hellenic Navy, deck officers and engineer officers and the personnel of our Merchant Marine often give their own lives to seas and oceans and they are for us an example of devotion and self-sacrifice.

Shipping is also the branch of financial activity which, by investing to its manpower and their training in a quite competitive environment, creates wealth, employment, progress and reinforces the Greek economy to a great extent.

It is important for us to maintain and reinforce further this productive relation of shipping with our country as one of the basic factors that can enhance Greece’s economy. This primary position of shipping is a privilege of Greece because it strengthens the global financial cooperation and prosperity. Let’s not forget that Greek-owned merchant fleet corresponds to 16% of the global shipping capacity and contributes significantly to our country’s NDP.

Considering also the importance of sea for our country which is surrounded by seas on three sides, which possesses a coast line 16,000 km long, thousands of islands and islets and which is crossed by vital sea routes of Central and Eastern Mediterranean, we realize the importance of maintaining the battle worthiness of the Hellenic Navy and retaining the global primacy of the Merchant Marine.

Therefore, our country’s choice of a long term sea strategy is a matter of causality and it regards not only its path to growth, but its national legacy to next generations as well.

Over the last years, especially with the emergence of piracy I wish to remind that by initiative of the then Secretary General of the IMO Efthymios Mitropoulos Greece was the first to contribute to the international force in Malaga and in the South of Suez to confront piracy. The Hellenic Navy assigned the first vessel to the international force and we deterred an activity which harmed the international specifications for many years.

We all realize that the support and development of shipping are for Greece a firm strategy which must guide the shipping entrepreneurial activity. In particular today, when Greek ship-owners must strengthen their effort to support Greece through new investments, new employment posts, contributing thus to the economic growth.

From our side, the government must do everything to bring the Greek flag back to Greek-owned ships; to fill the decks and engine rooms again with Greek sailors.

Dear Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, I would like to thank you once more for your invitation on the occasion of the exhibition “Poseidonia 2016” because, as you know, this exhibition having international participation, prestige and an permanent appreciation by the international shipping, banking and financial community, advertises the Greek merchant marine every year.

Let me address now also the Greek ship-owners. I know how much you admire and help officers of the Coast Guard after their retirement. I would like us to do our best to give officers of the Hellenic Navy who retire at an active age from the Navy, the chance to be accepted easier in the shipping family.

Thank you very much.”