The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos  accompanied by HAGS Chief Lt General Alkiviadis Stefanis,   awarded Army Officers with their swords (Army Military Academy and Corps Officers Military Academy excluded). The ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Supreme Military Command of Army Support in Athens.

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

“It is a great honour to be here today at the Supreme Military Command of Army Support to award male and female Greek Officers with their swords.

Dear Officers, this ceremony is all about the traditions of the Hellenic Army. Be proud of the sword you are presented with, because it has a special symbolic and historical value and it constitutes a diachronic symbol of honour ,courage and pride for all Officers. Through your sword you are paying the owed respect to those who stood tall and fought the ultimate battle for the higher ideals of national independence and the freedom of our country.

As members of the Army family, pave the way for the younger generations and inspire our recruited youth, instigating them to serve faithfully and with devotion the ideals of the Nation. You are the ones who lead, train and keep high the morale of your subordinates, so that they can uncomplainingly execute their high mission.

Our Armed Forces are a force of deterrence and defence of our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and are a stalwart factor of stability and peace in the wider region, while they contribute in every possible manner to the security, social stamina and consequently the prosperity of the Greek people.

On behalf of the Greek people I would like to thank all Members of the Armed Forces for their work. The Hellenic Armed Forces produce heroes even at peace time, take for the example the recently deceased officers who fell for their faith and their country, as so many others did in the past.

Today Greece is called to face the dangerous and historically ignorant  obsessions of Turkey, which distort the International Law, Contracts as well as the ethics, and promote claims against our country and fellow country Cyprus. Their continuous disobedience of the Air Traffic Regulations of the Athens FIR and their non-stop national air-space and territorial waters  violations in Greece and Cyprus, constitute a threat to international security in the region of South-East Mediterranean.

As a Nation we are responding to all these threats with strategic temperance and we will continue to do so. The last aircraft landing shall always be a Greek one. All this is part of a wider strategic plan which is consolidated by international law. Our Armed Forces with their strong presence provide answers to each challenge and provocation,  and,  rest assured that this message is comprehended by all, friends and foes, especially during our times, which are times of great, sudden and dramatic changes.  

Dear Officers, closing, I would like to remind to you all that parents entrust you with their children in peace and war, and you are obliged to guide them, train them, following standing orders and procedures so that they return to the society as healthy,  mature and conscientious  citizens.

I wish health to all of you, so that you will continue serving with pride and dignity,  having always in mind that you are serving the Hellenic Republic,  the Nation and the  higher principles and values which have kept Greece alive and free.

I ought to say at this point that the delay of this ceremony is rectified by an order of the Political and Military Leadership.

Keep your morale high and continue offering to your country,  especially today when we are fighting a multi-faceted struggle, which I am quite certain we shall win.

All the best to you all”.