The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis, visited the Outposts of Dipotamia and Krystallopigi.
The Minister of National Defence also visited Ereikousa and Othoni islands.
On Ereikousa Island, he stated the following:
“We are here today, on Ereikousa island, with the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis. We will visit also Othoni and Mathraki islands very soon; so the Ministry of National Defence will make the least contribution that it owes to the locals.
From Leon who is the youngest and the only pupil to the older residents, the country ought to provide for these people who guard the borders. The presence of local residents on the island, who reside here in winter under difficult circumstances, is related to the very protection of our national sovereignty.
Apart from any assistance we may provide as far as doctors and healthcare are concerned – there is no rural doctor and, until this position is covered, we will satisfy this need with a doctor who will be able to visit both Ereikousa and Mathraki islands and reside here –, we decided to offer the living costs for two unemployed multi-member families who will decide to come and settle on the island; so that Leon will have also fellow pupils.
Let us give a motivation and a pilot project, at this time of the financial crisis, victims of which are many families. Let them see that there is another aspect of Greece which is not Greece of big cities and unemployment, but Greece where people keep smiling.
We may not reach 104 pupils that the school had in the past, but, at least, there will be the possibility for residents to return to these islands and for growth conditions to be created again, not only during summertime. Our islands are not only resorts, they are also places where the Greek flag is hoisted and national sovereignty is defended.
I would like to say that the Prime Minister himself who knows the island and the residents very well, asked me to be here today and the government will make this step.
I would like to thank the teacher in particular, who gives her own struggle, like all state employees who are here on our islands. They make their own contribution to our homeland. I would like to thank everybody who lives here and gives life to the islands”.
JOURNALIST: I would like to hear your message from the North-westernmost point of Greece today, Mr. Kammenos.
Π. ΚΑΜΜΕΝΟΣ: The message is clear; our country’s national sovereignty, of course, is defended by the Armed Forces, just as the protection of the territorial integrity. But not only by them. The presence of residents in the borderline areas is a national obligation. It is a duty of ensuring our national sovereignty. If the islands are abandoned, then it is not only life that will stop to exist on the islands, it is also the continental shelf that will cease to exist, it is also the presence of our homeland and the hoist of the Greek flag that will cease to exist.
