On Tuesday 13 December 2022, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, visited the 424 General Army Training Hospital in Thessaloniki, where he inaugurated the project pertaining to the full energy upgrade of the Hospital’s premises.
The project, which was implemented in cooperation with the Region of Central Macedonia and financed through the absorption and utilization of Community funds under NSRF 2014-2020, will drastically contribute to the reduction of the energy footprint of the Hospital’s building complex.
The Deputy Minister of the National Defence pointed out the immediate response and significant contribution across all stages of the project’s implementation of the Deputy Minister of the Interior responsible for Macedonia-Thrace matters, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis, and the Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence pointed inter alia:
“This project, which was successfully concluded, proves the tangible interest of the Ministry of National Defence and of the Government with regard to two fields of vital importance for Greek citizens’ quality of life.
The first field, i.e. Healthcare services, which constitute a basic pillar of the welfare state. The effort to upgrade the public Health infrastructure is continuous, systematic, holistic and horizontal, especially when we refer to the Armed Forces, the personnel of which guarantees the defence and security of the country, in a period of intense international instability and great national geopolitical challenges. Along with the new oncology hospital, which will be built in this area, the construction and equipment cost of which will amount to more than two hundred and fifty million Euro, as well as with Papageorgiou Hospital, this current upgrade of 424 General Army Training Hospital aims at establishing a modern and powerful “medical complex”, which will constitute a point of reference, not only for Macedonia, but for the Balkans as a whole. Thessaloniki and Northern Greece in general deserve and demand nothing less and this must be a clear message to all!
The second field is that of energy. The wider Greek energy policy focuses on the viable and sustainable development of the energy sector, from the stage of production until the final use, as well as on the concurrent protection of the environment and the contribution towards facing the climate crisis. The success of projects like the present one, which is a pioneer project under Greek standards, shows that we are moving towards the right direction, while in the days to follow, the contract concerning the energy upgrade – an equally important project in the heart of Attica – of 401 General Army Hospital will be signed.
The absorption and utilization of Community funds, amounting to more than three point five million Euro which funded the energy upgrade of 424 General Army Training Hospital, in the context of NSRF 2014-2020. After a good many times, the benefit for our country for being part of the hard core of the big European “family” is yet again proved, since the effort to make a transition into a “green” economy, always based on a rational energy management, is ongoing.
He congratulated the Region of Central Macedonia and personally the Regional Governor, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, on their important role across all stages of the project. The close and smooth cooperation at the Ministry of National Defence between the Government and the contribution of the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Stavros Kalafatis, along with the local self-administration prove to be the foundation for the progress of the country.
He also congratulated all those who worked to complete these studies, the integrations to be effected, along with the services of the Head, and confirmed that “those of us who are in the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence feel, I say it everywhere and in public, because I really mean it, that we provide our services along with our members. The value of providing such services is to be useful both to them and to the society”.
In the context of the event, a Blessing Ceremony was performed, officiated by his Eminence the Metropolitan of Neapoli and Stavroupoli Varnavas. Addresses were made by the Head of Central Macedonia, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the Chief of HAGS, Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, representing the Chief of HNDGS, General Konstantinos Floros, and the Director of 424 General Army Training Hospital (MED), Brigadier General Georgios Gouvas.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Minister of the Interior, responsible for Macedonia-Thrace matters, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis, the Commanders of the 1st Army/EU-OHQ, Lieutenant General Angelos Choudeloudis, and of C Army Corps, Lieutenant General Sotirios Kostakoglou, the Mayors of Ambelokipoi and Menemeni, Mr. Lazaros Kyrizoglou and Pavlos Melas, Mr. Dimitrios Demourtzidis, as well as Officers, NCOs and civilians of 424 General Army Training Hospital.
Prior to the inauguration ceremony and while being at the headquarters of 424 General Army Training Hospital, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias stated:
“It is a very important day for 424 General Army Training Hospital and for the Armed Forces; but, if you like, this is the sealing of a multiyear cooperation with the Region of Central Macedonia, with the Regional Governor showing his personal interest. The project of the energy upgrade of 424 General Army Training Hospital is one more project, which attests to the excellent cooperation of the Armed Forces Services with the Region and the unique way through which they submit and complete studies in an organised, coordinated and coherent manner so as to absorb funds.
I would like to thank once again the Regional Governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas for our cooperation, which is not limited to this single event, but is rather horizontal, and holistic. He loves the Armed Forces, he loves his region, and he loves anything that is Greek.
Regarding the Greek-Turkish relations, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated:
“Our job is to be on the field, to think clearly, to be calm. Keep in mind that our Armed Forces are mighty. Our country is a key player. What we have to do is to keep working by the side of the Armed Forces, our members, in all corners of Greece, who are doing an excellent job.
Believe me: no matter what the circumstances, the Armed Forces will perform their duty. This is clear to all: allies, friends, enemies, revisionists. We are here and we are powerful”.
