The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos and the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis, attended the celebration for the Anniversary of May 8th, 1945, on Symi.

“Many years have passed since the Liberation and the end of World War II. Today, it is particularly important that among us are also the last generations of the Sacred Band, who made us the honour to accompany us together with the Military Leadership.

We honour our fallen, we honour those who fought and fell for our faith and our country, we honour those who struggled for freedom and we remember that this place is a place that cannot endure any conquerors, whether these conquerors come with military assets or with financial assets. No conquerors are tolerated in this place and this must be understood also by those who try, in any manner, to strike Greece’s national sovereignty or territorial integrity.

The Armed Forces are interconnected with the Greek people; they are children of the Greek people. With the blessing of the Church we will continue celebrating these anniversaries; we will defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I wish to thank, in particular – and as a Dodecanese resident – all people who participated today in these celebrations. If someone shows this image – and I hope that the media will do it – one may realize that Greece is a country where citizens are united under common ideals, history and they are born on a land soaked with blood. They respect the flag and democracy.”

JOURNALIST: What do you have to say to the opposite country on the occasion of your presence here today?

P. KAMMENOS: I wish they realize that it will be to everyone’s benefit if they stop their challenges towards Greece, and that we will be able to live together in a place which God has blessed. That said, however, every challenge will cause a reaction. I wish there are no challenges.
Do not forget that we must be ready for war, ready to ensure peace. The Armed Forces ensure peace and what the government seeks for is to ensure dialogue and peace, of course, without ceding even a little part of our rights and our national sovereignty.

Thank you very much.