It is a special moment for me, to be with you here today, on the historical island of Salamis to attend this commemoration called “Salaminia 2015”. For this reason, I wish to express my gratitude and congratulations to the local authorities who do not neglect to honour and keep the historical memories, through this commemoration, thus bequeathing traditional values and principles, such as devotion to one’s homeland and faith in freedom, to younger generations.

Today, we are commemorating the naval battle that was conducted near Salamis Island in September 480 B.C., not only as a historical fact, but to honour the enormous contribution that united Greek forces’ victory over the Persian invaders offered to World History. As it is generally admitted, this victory was determinative for the salvation of the Western Civilisation.

From a strategic point of view, the battle of Salamis devastated Persians’ morale and made them return to Asia. As a result, the Golden Age of Pericles and the Athenian Democracy flourished over the following years.

Athens was the first naval power of the world through which the Greek civilization was disseminated, as Xenophon wrote in Hellenica: “… and if the barbarians shall undertake to rule the sea, Greece will not tolerate this”.
        
Coming back to the present, I remind you that the main factors which affect our country’s naval force are its geographical position, its population, its financial and industrial capabilities, as well as its aeronautic force.
 
The naval power has always had a leading part among the Greek people. Greek people’s innate sailing skills, the advantage of their intellectual discipline and their high morale have been reflecting the value of the Hellenic Navy and of Greece’s Merchant Marine across time, from the battle of Salamis till nowadays.  

Our islands, our islets, our ports, our Hellenic Navy and our Merchant Marine altogether compose the naval forces of Greece.

At these difficult times that we are going through, we draw strength and inspiration from the heroes of the battle of Salamis, as well as from the heroic deeds of the fallen heroes of our Hellenic Navy over the centuries. We are ready to take the necessary action to protect the public interest, the stability and the security; to take actions that give prospect and hope to the Greek people and to our country. On days like this, we must contemplate and remember that, no matter what differences may exist among us, there is something profound and sacred that unites us. We are all Greeks, we honour our heroes together and we ought to struggle altogether to help our homeland recover.

Because we owe them not only our freedom and our national sovereignty, but our moral and national commitment to never allow our flags to be struck and to continue fighting for a sovereign, proud and independent Greece as well.

The legacy, therefore, that they left us is to fight with all our powers to defend our territorial integrity and national independence.

We must not forget that the combat against the Persians was a war for freedom; it was the victory of freedom against atrociousness and subjection to a foreign rule.

In conclusion, I wish to stress that it is our imperative commitment towards the heroes of our history and towards future generations as well, to be watchful guards worthy of our heroic ancestors.

I would like to thank, in particular, the Ambassadors of friendly and allied countries and the Defence Attachés for attending the commemoration. Their presence is highly symbolic because the Naval Battle of Salamis was one of the first allied operations against a common enemy.
In conclusion, I want to promise Madame Mayor, not as Minister of National Defence, but as a party leader and as individual, that I will support the candidature of Salamis to become European Capital of Culture in 2021.

Thank you.”