The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vassilios Tellidis, inaugurated at Ikaria island the first project of “DIDERGON” (former MOMA) which includes widening and improvement of the road connecting the villages Karkinagri and Magganitis in the south of the island.

The Minister of National Defence stated, among other things, the following:

“Proven consistent, with everybody’s participation, we inaugurate the project completed by the echelon of the 747 Engineers Battalion, the restoration and improvement of the island’s road network, which had suffered damages due to natural disasters.

Today we inaugurate the project which connects the villages Karkinagri, Magganitis and Aghios Kirikos. Seeing the outcome of a great effort and consistent work that have been going on for several months now, I would like to remind you that we steadily implement what we promised at each public appearance. This is the first project, yet this does not mean that it will be the last one.

The role of the Armed Forces is of course to safeguard national independence and to defend our country’s territorial integrity, a role that is strictly fulfilled.

On the Holy Day of Easter, with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, during our visit at the Hellenic Navy’s frigate “ADRIAS”, we stated that each inch of Greek land, sea and air is not negotiable. It was an important message by Prime Minister himself, which also conveyed support towards the Hellenic Armed Forces.

Greece respects and honours international law, yet friends and foes should know that the country’s Armed Forces keep our flags high and they are ready to respond to anyone who might conspire so as to challenge our sovereign rights.

However, beyond their institutional role, the Armed Forces also have a multidimensional social task. Their high-level social contribution enhances the bonds with society, increases the feeling of security and shapes social cohesion.

Evidently, it is a national mission to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of a borderline island, since we believe that islanders who stay on their islands under difficult circumstances also perform a national task.

I would like to underline that the Armed Forces on Ikaria Island will be enhanced with a new planning considered by the Chief of HAGS with the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands, the Commander of Samos Island, as well as all the Officers who work so as to reinforce Ikaria with new military force, by enhancing and developing the National Guard, in the south as well as in the north part of the island since, as we have seen, Ikaria is among the other side’s targets. Our response will be the reinforcement of the island, its financial growth, the development of tourism and, naturally, the promotion of an island which has managed, despite the difficult conditions, to be a global model for longevity; it is among the so called “blue zones” affecting longevity.