The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Vasileios Tellidis, visited the remote islands of Kastellorizo, Strongyli, Rho, Pserimos, Oinousses, Aghios Efstratios and Lemnos, where he visited the outposts and, on the occasion of the oncoming holidays, he exchanged wishes and offered gifts to Officers, NCOs and Privates. He also visited schools on the islands where he offered gifts to pupils.

On Lemnos island, the Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Christos Vaitsis.

The Minister of National Defence, from Rho Island, made the following statement:

“From here, from Rho, a remote part of Greece, together with the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, the Mayor of Kastellorizo, the General and Commander of Kastellorizo, we came to express our wishes for Merry Christmas to the Officers, NCOs and conscripts.

From the depths of my heart, on behalf of the Prime Minister, the Political leadership, the Ministry of National Defence, as well as of the Greek people, I wish to congratulate the entire army, the Officers, NCOs, men and women of the Armed Forces who are here on holidays, on their duty, with high professionalism, high morale, love for their homeland, far from their families to defend Greece’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We stand by them and we do our best to protect their work and mission. Merry Christmas to everybody, wherever they are, in Evros, in the rest of continental Greece, on the islands. We are proud of you. Merry Christmas.”