On Thursday, 3 October 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Giannis Kefalogiannis participated in the event “National Strategy for Regional and Local Development. We Discuss, Decide, Move Forward, TOGETHER for Evros” held at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Orestiada, in the presence of the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
During his intervention, Mr. Kefalogiannis pointed out the actions and works of the Ministry of National Defence, stressing that the Ministry stands in deed beside the citizens of Evros.
He stressed that its multifaceted contribution is evident by the great housing programme under development, the grant of land for the creation of school facilities, sports fields, and a park, the provision of personnel to meet needs of the National Health System and the National Emergency Aid Centre, the contribution to Civil Protection and the actions to reinforce the institution of family.
Among other things, the Deputy Minister of National Defence pointed out:
“First, I want to stress that the strengthening of the regions – especially the remote ones – is a crucial element, if not an essential requirement for the defence of a country.
“Evros” and the “Armed Forces” are interrelated concepts. A resilient and an economically, socially, and demographically powerful Evros means, among other things, an essential improvement in the quality of life of the Armed Forces members and their families. That is why the strategic choice of the Ministry of National Defence is the constant and multifaceted contribution of the Armed Forces to meet the needs of local communities.
In this context, the biggest housing programme is under development for the members of the Armed Forces, amounting at 100 million Euros for the construction of 800 houses, of which 37 million are for the construction of 232 houses in the area of Evros. More specifically, the tendering procedures for the construction of 52 houses in Alexandroupolis, 64 houses in Didymotiho, 64 houses in Orestiada, 39 houses in Samothraki, and 13 houses in Soufli are under development, to be completed by 2026.
The big difference compared to the past is that 15% of these houses will be allocated to civil servants, like doctors, teachers, professors, paramedics, who are called by the State to serve in a different area of their residence and who, as our members, face the lack of affordable and sufficient accommodation. The above action is incorporated in a policy of the Armed Forces, which besides the matter of accommodation, reinforces the institution of family, thus contributing to the dealing with the demographic problem, to the extent possible, which here in Evros is really intense.
Second, the needs of the Greek cities for public green spaces for sports and recreation are known. The city of Alexandroupolis is not an exception. For this reason we immediately proceed to the concession of former camp “Parmenion” to the Municipality of Alexandroupolis, totalling 13 hectares, for the creation of school facilities, sports fields, and a park.
Third, as you know, there is a matter of lack of staffing in the primary and secondary health structures of the National Health System. The problem is more intense in border regions. From July 2023 to March 2025, we assign military personnel to the Health Centres of Samothraki, Soufli, and Dikaii as ambulance drivers, while a number of specialist doctors have been assigned to the General Hospital of Didymotiho and the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis.
Fourth, natural disasters do not make distinctions among civilians and military. When the Country needs the experience, the professionalism, the know-how and the effectiveness of the Armed Forces, they cannot stay idle. The Armed Forces are actively involved in the prevention, dealing with, and timely restoration of the impact of natural disasters.
With the help of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in the last five years, works amounting at 84 million Euros have been provided for the procurement of machinery, collapsible bridges, firefighting vehicles, transport assets, and ambulances, through which the Armed Forces will make their contribution to civil protection even more effective.
Fifth, we have proceeded with the operation of a network of child care centres in Alexandroupolis, Ferres, Didymotiho, Orestiada, and Soufli, hosting today 80 children of members of the Armed Forces. This network will expand to cover an even greater number of children, in the context of our policy of welfare for the personnel and especially the reinforcement of the institution of family.
Sixth, and perhaps this is not really well known, but the Navy is responsible, among other things, for the approval of the establishment of areas for seaplane flights. Two weeks ago, we approved the first two sea areas in Samothraki and Alexandroupolis that will further contribute to tourist and economic growth, contributing (in the case of Samothraki) in the lifting of inequalities that insularity objectively creates.
Concluding, I would like to assure, in the presence of Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, that the Armed Forces will continue to reinforce in every way possible the social coherence in Evros, as they have done all these years: With their participation in the execution of rural road construction works and the maintenance of sports infrastructures. With the dispatch of educational material and the provision of equipment in remote areas schools. With the provision of materials and equipment to public utility associations. With their contribution in the organisation and implementation of cultural and social events. The Armed Forces will be by the side of the civilians of Evros, whatever required”.
