The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, in the context of his formal visit in Australia, visited today Monday 24 October 2022 the Parliament in Canberra, and met with Ministers and high-ranking Officials of the Government.

Specifically, he met with the Minister responsible for Veterans Issues Mr. Matt Keogh, with whom they discussed matters of mutual interest, focusing on the ongoing construction of a memorial place in Lemnos island. This project, which will take place by exclusive financing by the Australian Government, is a token of honor for the men of the Military Expeditionary Corps of Australia and New Zealand (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps -ANZAC), who had served in the island during the 1915-1916 Gallipolis Campaign. Mr. Hardalias confirmed the full support of all Greek authorities and agencies with regard to the memorial construction.

Next, Mr. Hardalias met with the Assistant Minister for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and the Republic Mr. Matt Thistlethwaite, with whom he discussed matters of mutual interest.

After that, he met with the members of the Joint Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade:

-The Federal MP Mr. Shayne Neumann, President of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

– The Federal MP Mr. David Fawcett, Vice President of the Committee.

– The Federal MP Mr. Steve Georganas, member and President of the Transactions and Development Committee.

– The Federal MP Mr. Luke Gosling, member of the Committee.

– The Federal MP Mr. Micheal McCormack, member of the Committee.

– The Federal MP Ms. Maria Vamvakinou, member of the Committee and President of the Committee on Migration.

– The Federal MP Ms. Dedorah O’Neil, member of the Committee.

– The Federal MP Mr. Peter Khalil, member of the Committee.

First, the Deputy Minister of National Defence informed the Committee on the ongoing and all the more increasing rhetoric of Turkey who, by keeping an irresponsible and dangerous stance, also takes action in the field, with a record of overflights, violations and infringements of our National Air Space and Territorial Waters.

He also pointed out the illegal occupation of Cyprus and the weaponization of the migration and refugee issue across the borders of the European Union, shamelessly exploited by Turkey, to promote its geopolitical agenda, and also to blackmail Greece, other neighboring countries, as well as International Organizations and Associations.

He highlighted that Greece responds by actively defending its borders and fully respecting the fundamental human rights, International Law and the Law of the Sea, through:

-Reinforcing its deterrence capabilities, with stronger Armed Forces.

-Diplomacy and the conclusion of agreements, at bilateral and multilateral level.

-The active support in promoting European integration, especially in the fields of Defence and Foreign Policy.

He suggested, referring to the defence cooperation concerning security and defence, to view and examine the possibility of Australia participating in PESCO and other European organizations’ common programs.

Finally, he addressed the war in Ukraine, mentioning Russia’s blatant attack, which disregarded International Law so as to promote its expansionary agenda, resulting in the destabilization of the region, the disturbance of global stability and security, and the negative impact of war to the states’ economies.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence also attended events that took place in Canberra as follows:

He visited the Australian War Museum and laid a wreath in the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. Next, he visited the Stone of Remembrance for the fallen of the Battle of Crete.

-He visited the Greek-Australian Monument and laid a wreath.

The events were attended by the Greek Ambassador in Australia Mr. Georgios Papakostas, the Greek Defence Attaché Colonel Ioannis Fasianos, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra Mr. Ioannis Loukadelis, the President of the Coordination Committee of the Pan-Australian Cypriot Struggle and President of the Cypriot Community Ms. Georgia Alexandrou, members of Organizations and Unions of native Greeks and others.

-He visited the Greek Embassy in Australia and participated in a working dinner, hosted by the Greek Orthodox Community and the Church of Canberra.

The event was attended by the Greek Ambassador, the Ambassador and High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia Mr. Antonios Sammoutis, the Right Reverend Bishop Vartholomaios of Canberra, the members of our diplomatic and military delegation, members of the Federal and State Government, MPs, Presidents and members of Organizations and Unions of the Greek and Cypriot Communities of Canberra.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence, in the context of the visit in the Embassy, addressed the guests and stated among other things:

“I think that this feeling I have had for three days now that I am in Australia is, I would say, special, compared to any other.

I had the opportunity as Deputy Minister of Defence to travel all over the world and meet with people of the Diaspora, of native Greeks, both in America and in Alexandria. We are still Greeks everywhere.

This feeling I have also received these first three days seems very special.

It seems special due to the way you smile to us, the way you look straight to our eyes, the way you shake our hand, the way you show your love for home, for anything Greek. From the bottom of my heart I genuinely thank you; we are grateful for everything you do for the Country, you are our true Ambassadors.

You are the people who, through the Communities, along with our native federal and state MPs, whom I met these days and are so active, work hard obviously for the Community, obviously for Australia, which opened its arms and welcomed you here, and at the same time for home as well, to be able to keep alive here in Australia, 13,300 kilometers away from home, everything that made us a special people, a people that wishes to keep its memory alive.

Tomorrow, following the meetings in the Ministry of Defence with the Minister of Defence and the Alternate Prime Minister of the country for matters of mutual interest concerning the Armed Forces and our cooperation and assets in NATO and other matters, I will go to Adelaide, where we will celebrate our national anniversary, along with the Presidential Guard, which participates after many years in the festivities of our Community there.

But I would like to tell you a few words about Home.

The Homeland is progressing, the Homeland is the protagonist; Everything that the governments of the last twenty years were never called to face, had to be tackled by our government in these three years; a global pandemic, floods, earthquaques, the climate destabilization, the lot; there weren’t many things left that we were not called to face. A European war very close to us, that tends to have a global impact, a huge energy crisis which has marked and triggered uncontrolled situations, but the country still stands! The growth rate of the country is extraordinary, the country is an investment destination for big companies, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and hundreds more massive companies trust Greece and invest. Unemployment has fallen to 12% from a previous 17% in the crisis. We are not happy, we must decrease it even more, but we are talking about 267,000 new job posts; and all this happened in the middle of the crises we face.

Since most of you are from beautiful borderline islands that I very often have the opportunity to visit, trying to be at our Surveillance Outposts, by the side of the people who give their best every day to keep our country safe, I hear your questions if we are safe: yes, things are tense in the Aegean, in the Mediterranean, but I want you to know something. Greece is safe, our Country is strong, it is the protagonist. We do not complain, we do not threaten anyone, we seek peace, and we seek friendship, the brotherhood of peoples. We keep our arms open to all the people who wish to share the same thoughts, the same principles, the same perspective for the region, for our children’s future, but we do not negotiate on matters concerning the country and our national sovereignty, and this is a message extended to everyone , friends and foes. We seek peace, we wish to be a pillar of stability, but, at the same time -devoted to International Law and the Law of the Sea- we let no one believe that any challenge regarding our national sovereign rights would remain unanswered.

Our Armed Forces are strong andfully ready, Heaven forbid anything happens, and we work so that everything is peaceful, that no problems exist; yet, against offensive rhetoric and historically inaccurate references, we will answer with soberness, composure, but also readiness. Because we are called by our ancestors’ heritage to be serious, restrained and ready, when and if needed, to do what each one of us has taken an oath to do.

Be well, be strong, I am really touched as I see people bound by old memories, back to the first years of your grandfathers, of our fathers. You left everything behind and you came here, in a country that opened its arms in a unique manner, a special manner I would say, in order to provide you the opportunity to progress, to create great things and make all us so far and yet so close, proud.

Congratulations on everything you do.

Thank you, the Country is grateful, be well’.