On Tuesday, 05 December 2023, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, attended as representative of the Prime Minister, the ceremony organised by the Hellenic Navy for the celebration of St. Nicholas, patron saint of the Navy, and the anniversary of the victorious naval battles of the Balkan Wars 1912 – 1913. The ceremony took place at the Foundation of the Hellenic World – “Hellenic Cosmos” Cultural Centre.
The ceremony was also attended by the representative of His Beatitude, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Archimandrite Ioil Konstantaros, Members and Representatives of elected political parties, the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Ioannis Drimousis HN, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Angelos Choudeloudis, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Major General (HAF) Antonios Panidis as representative of the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, the Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Georgios Alexandrakis CG, representatives of the Security Forces, active duty and retired officers of the Armed Forces, as well as their families.
Mr. Kefalogiannis underlined the pride that Greeks take in the Hellenic Navy, which has been, is, and will keep on meeting the expectations of Hellenism and will be a vigilant guardian of the Hellenic seas. At the same time, he pointed out that the Government and the Ministry of National Defence, having understood the major importance of power at sea for securing our territorial integrity, have set the upgrade and enhancement of our Navy as a strategic goal.
In his address the Deputy Minister stated:
“It is a great pleasure to be here today, at the Foundation of the Hellenic World, to honour the memory of the Patron Saint of our Seamen, St. Nicholas, with religious respect. That Saint who accompanies and protects our seamen during their voyages and reminds them at all times, that the sea has been a source of life for our country since ancient times. Today, we are also celebrating the anniversary of the victorious naval battles of the Balkan Wars, thanks to which Hellenic sovereignty over the Aegean Sea was established. With all due respect to the struggle and sacrifices of the land forces, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that our power at sea had a decisive contribution to the doubling of Hellenic territory.
So, we are all proud of our Navy, which has been, is, and will keep on meeting the expectations of Hellenism and will be a vigilant guardian of the Hellenic seas. Since ancient times, it has been evident that the fate of Greeks is intertwined with the sea. Hence, our ancient ancestors started building the first means of naval transportation, which would allow them to cross seaways and contact other peoples and civilisations. From the expedition of Troy to the Persian Wars, it was proven emphatically that the freedom and independence of Greeks were connected to the sea element. The words of Themistoklis that “We posses land and country when we have ships at sea” constitute the cornerstone of our Country’s sea power. That element is also pointed out on the emblem of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, “The rule of the sea is a great matter”. Even the decline and fall of the Byzantine Empire came when it lost its power at sea. But even the Revolution of 1821 came from heroes such as Miaoulis and Kanaris, who used their own ships to fight battles in the Aegean. Almost a century after that, during the Balkan Wars, the importance of the Navy would become evident in the victorious naval battles of ELLI and LIMNOS. Led by Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis and with the contribution of the cruiser “GEORGIOS AVEROF” and other Greek ships, they would free the Aegean islands.
Today, in a broader region that is characterised by uncertainty and security threats, our country remains a stable pillar of stability and security. The Hellenic Navy plays a crucial role in securing those characteristics, with centuries worth of traditions and the culture of its personnel. An evident culture through the history and the centuries. The Hellenic Navy and its personnel are worthy heir of a glorious tradition. It stands on the first line of duty, steadily and firmly, fulfilling its mission.
Today, the Government and the Ministry of National Defence, having understood the major importance of power at sea for securing our territorial integrity, have set the upgrade and enhancement of our Navy as a strategic goal. This is planned and implemented at two levels: First, at a level of units and personnel, so that it can operate in the complex insular environment of the Aegean. Second, with the renewal and signing of new defence cooperation agreements with powerful countries, which have lots of benefits to offer to the Hellenic Navy. The goals that are achieved with the armaments programmes is the procurement of the very modern Belharra frigates, ISLAND type patrol boats, new modern heavyweight torpedoes for our submarines, and seven new ROMEO type helicopters. At the same time, the upgrade of the MEKO class frigates is promoted.
At this point, you will allow me to congratulate our personnel from the bottom of my heart. Those that constitute the driving force and force multiplier of our Navy’s power with their sense of duty and responsibility at their work. Those who, despite their main responsibilities, contribute to society with their everyday actions across the country. A multi-faceted contribution in areas such as health, Search and Rescue, utility project construction, and the support of Civil Protection.
Greece is a primarily naval nation and, as such, it is necessary to always ensure the development and maintenance of its naval power. The challenges are countless and unpredictable. The naval surveillance, the presence in our country’s broader area of interest, the environmental security, and the resilience of crucial naval and submarine infrastructure, are some of them. At this point, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have offered material and financial support to the Hellenic Navy through donations and sponsorships. The contribution of all those people is a generous contribution to the defence of our country. Finally, I would like to pay due respects to all those who sacrificed their lives for our country’s values and ideals, so that Greece can be independent, free, and proud today. Our debt to all of them is so big, that we ought to prove at all times that we are worthy to be their descendants .
Many happy returns to our Navy!
Thank you”.
