The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Georgios Giakoumakis, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis and the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Christos Vaitsis, as representative of the government, attended the celebration of the anniversary of the Greek Naval Mutiny of May 1973 on Velos D-16 Museum of Anti-dictatorial Struggle in Naval Tradition Park, Marina Floisvou.

The celebration was also attended by the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Thodoris Dritsas.     

The Minister of National Defence stated in his address the following:

“It is a particularly great honour to be with you here today. I feel particularly touched because of the historical importance of this ceremony for the anniversary of the momentous resistance action of the mutiny of the Hellenic Navy and of Destroyer “VELOS” D-16. It is, at the same time, a commemoration of every military officer of every branch, who honoured their oaths during the difficult period of the dictatorship and they resisted the overthrow of democracy.

Dear Ms. Pappas, wife of Admiral Nikos Pappas,

We are here to reflect on the magnitude of these Officers and NCOs’ contribution who tried to oppose their loyalty to freedom and Democracy, to the darkness of the dictatorship in contempt of any dangers. Among the participants was also the then Commander of “Velos” Admiral Nikos Pappas who is not among us this year too, as well as its crew, who wrote their own page in the history of our glorious Hellenic Navy. It is our sacred duty and obligation to honour them because only thus their action will be demonstrated and it will become an example to the Armed Forces and it will inspire them to pursue great work and defend high values.

We should all remember that the Mutiny of the Navy and the Destroyer “VELOS” D-16 were the lights and symbols of Democracy and anti-dictatorial struggle that indicated that those who tried to abolish Greek people’s freedom and democratic values did not have the right to be among the honest members of the Armed Forces.

These men, showing their love for their homeland and freedom, wrote another brilliant page in the history of the Hellenic Navy, loyal to the traditions formed across its three thousand years long history.

This action convulsed the dictatorship strongly and, along with other significant resistance actions, such as the ones of Alekos Panagoulis and Spyros Moustaklis, the uprisings in the Law School and in the Polytechnic University, marked the beginning of the end of tyranny which unfortunately was accompanied by the national tragedy in Cyprus and the Turkish occupation of about half of the island until today.

Our country’s Armed Forces, loyal to democracy, devoted to defending our territorial integrity and our Homeland’s national independence, fully supported by the Greek people, are always the main supporter of the Greek nation and Democracy.

The Armed Forces, through their constitutional role and mission, are the guarantors of our country’s security against any foreign threat so that our people are able to exercise their civil, financial and social rights.

However, the Armed Forces are here also to provide social work, as they proved during the last year, when they were called to help the country in the migrants and refugees’ issue.
    
The Armed Forces are here, having their own command. Promotions are conducted only by the military leaders without any political interventions.

On days like this, we should reflect and remember that, no matter what our arguments are, there is something deeper and more sacred that united us. We are all Greeks and we must all together defend the democratic ideals and freedom in our country.

As the Minister of National Defence, I would like to assure you that we will open all archives regarding the past together with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff and the Chiefs of the General Staffs, so that the Greek people will be informed about those days and we will bring the archives of Cyprus to publicity, but mostly we will provide them to the Hellenic Parliament. It is time that the Greek people learnt the whole truth. We owe this to the next generations.

Glorious Officers of the Hellenic Navy who are now, in reserve, and not in retirement, we are asking for your help, your support and your action.

In this context, I would like to announce the creation of a Special Secretariat of Veterans which will be a full part of the command of the Ministry of National Defence.

Thank you very much”.