In the presence of HE President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos and the Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, representing the Government and accompanied by the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, took place the celebrations for the feast in honour of the Transfiguration of Christ and for the 191st anniversary of the battle of Mycale.
The Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“When they are united, the Greeks can obtain and safeguard their national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The message of the day of August 6th is the message of the union of the Samiots and the liberation of Samos Island. The battle of Mycale is the second sea battle after the Persian Wars. Currently, in this area, we fight a third “battle”. The pressure exerted to our islands due to refugees and immigrants is great. It is not a war attack, yet it is a vast humanitarian crisis. We now have refugees who are war victims in the Middle East and particularly in the area of Syria, we have entire families who seek after a better future. However, their presence in the islands complicates things, especially tourism.
The Government does its best. As you have seen, the transit days on the islands have been reduced; refugees only stay for two days, which is as long as needed for them to ensure papers so as to leave and continue their course. Greece is not their target country.
However, there are problems which are particularly tangible in smaller islands and islets. In a few, along with the Chief of the Hellenic Navy and the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands, we shall visit Farmakonissi, Agathonissi and Kalolimnos, so as to ascertain this new phenomenon we observe lately, traffickers debarking the refugees within military areas. This is unacceptable.
I believe that we will soon find a solution. Nevertheless, on behalf of the Government and the Greek people as well, I would like to publicly thank, besides the personnel of the Armed Forces – as it is their task and mission – the personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Hellenic Police, the Healthcare Services and the Court Services, for their struggle here on these islands. I believe that a solution will be found soon.”
JOURNALIST: Mister Minister, will the Ministry of National Defence continue its infrastructure works?
P. KAMMENOS: The Ministry of National Defence begun with the new MOMA (joint groups for engineer reconstruction) this work in Ikaria, which is expected to be completed in a year. I hope that it will be completed sooner, within the next months. We have already reached the point of completion of the entire road. We expect an approval for a technical work, the placement of a bridge which will connect Kirkinagri to Agios Kirikos. A distance the car now needs 2,5 to 3,5 hours to cover so as to visit the hospital in Kirkinagri, will be covered in 25 to 30 minutes. It is a very important work. Once more, the Armed Forces have proved that, apart from the security they can ensure during war, they can also offer during peacetime where private initiatives can’t. We shall continue with more islands and, naturally, Samos is among them. However, as you can understand, the islands where no contractors exist and no public works can be made are our priority. This first work, which was started in Ikaria, proves that neither the Engineer Corps nor the MOMA have forgotten the excellent job they used to do in the old days, when they constructed roads and works throughout Greece.
We shall be present. I congratulate our personnel for their effort.
Later, the Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, visited Kalolimnos and Farmakonissi, and overflew various islets so as to ascertain the prevailing condition of the refugees. In Farmakonissi, he was briefed on the developments and discussed with refugees.
