The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos, attended the exercise “PYRPOLITIS 2/15” which was conducted on the Aegean Sea.
Answering a journalist’s question, the Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“Today, following an order given early this morning by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Michail Kostarakos, we launched the Exercise “PYRPOLITIS 2” for 2015. The objective of today’s exercise was to recapture airports in the Eastern Aegean, to activate the entire Air Defence of the country and to mobilise the entire Armed Forces.
I wish to congratulate all the participants in this Exercise. I had the pleasure early this morning to travel with the Chief to Lemnos, Chios and Skyros, where parachuters of the Special Parachuters Unit made their landing falls, and afterwards, along with the Z’ Amphibious Raider Squadron, we proceeded to the second part of the operation, which included recapturing the airport of Ikaria island.
The participation of officers, NCOs and National Guard was absolutely successful. The operation of recapture was conducted in less time than it was predicted and planned. The coordination between the Special Forces and the local authorities was excellent and I ought to say that the coordination of the National Guard which was mobilized this morning was excellent too.
It is an exercise which is conducted several times a year and it is necessary for the readiness and training of the Armed Forces.
I want to congratulate everyone who participated, from the Chiefs of General Staffs to the National Guard on the remotest island. Today, we proved once more that our country’s Armed Forces, despite the financial crisis, have a high morale, professionalism and they defend our country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity successfully. We are ready to respond to any challenge. We are ready for war, ready to ensure peace, because peace can be ensured only when you are totally ready to confront any challenge.”
