The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias represented the Hellenic Government on Saturday, 21 May 2022, at the celebration of the 158th anniversary of the Unification of the Ionian Islands to Greece, which was held in Argostoli by the Regional Unit of Kefallinia.

At first, the Deputy Minister of National Defence attended the Doxology in the Holy Metropolitan Church of Evangelistria, where His Eminence the Metropolitan of Kefallinia Dimitrios officiated. Then, he visited the Monument to the Party of Radicals, where a memorial service was held, and he laid a wreath to the monument.

In the end, Mr. Chardalias attended the parade, at the central square of the city, in which detachments from schools, cultural associations, sport associations and other bodies participated.

Right after the parade was over, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias delivered the following statement:

“It’s a beautiful day, a unique and a special day, in our heart and in our mind. My warmest congratulations to all our children, to our teachers, our personnel who participated in the parade; to everybody who organized this beautiful event. Congratulations Kefallonia, congratulations to the Ionian Islands; holding our heads proudly high, staring the blue sky, the blue sea, of our Flag, of our Land.

I am very happy, this is a special honour, and I feel particularly proud to participate in this event today, here, in beautiful Kefallonia, representing the Government and the Prime Minister, to the Unification of the Ionian Islands with our Homeland. This is a unification that put an end to a foreign sovereignty that lasted for many centuries and the most important is that it contributed to the national integration of our country. Congratulations Kefallonia, congratulations to the Ionian Islands. I wish you all to be healthy and have such a beautiful celebration next year too”.

The celebration was also attended by the MP of Kefallinia constituency Mr. Panagis Kappatos, the Deputy Regional Governor of the Regional Unit of Kefallinia and Ithaca Mr. Stavros Travlos, the Mayor of Argostoli Mr. Theofilos Michalatos, the Chief of Staff of the Fire Brigade Lieutenant General Georgios Pournaras, the Director of the Police Directorate of Kefallinia Police Colonel Ioannis Boumis, the Director of Firefighting Service of Kefallinia Prefecture Fire Colonel Konstantinos Psarros, the Commander of the Merchant Marine Academy of the Ionian Islands Commander Anastasios Schinas and the Chief of Kefallinia Port Authority Commander Athanasios Sioutis.