On Sunday, 15 January 2023, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias attended an event for the cutting of the traditional Vasilopita by the Armed Forces Reserve Officers’ Association of Attica, which was held at the amphitheatre of the Signals School at Camp “Georgios Karaiskakis A” in Haidari.
Within the framework of the ceremony, the President of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers’ Association of Attica, Mr. Manthos-Sotirios Matthaiou, presented awards to the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias, and the Chiefs of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, and Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, in recognition of the contribution and support of the Ministry of National Defence and the General Staffs, respectively, to the Association’s volunteer, multi-faceted, and extremely important work.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, the Chiefs of Hellenic National Defence General Staff and Hellenic Army General Staff, and other officials recognised members of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers’ Association of Attica for their participation in last year’s fire fighting and fire safety efforts as volunteer firefighters and their ethos and selfless contribution to volunteer actions for the common good.
During the ceremony, addresses were made by the Chiefs of HNDGS and HAGS, and the President of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers’ Association of Attica, while the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated the following:
“Good evening everyone and happy New Year. I am happy to be here for the cutting of the Vasilopita by the Armed Forces Reserve Officers’ Association of Attica. You know, I have a special bond with the reserve officers of the Armed Forces from the time of my tenure in Civil Protection, when I had the opportunity to observe on the field their contributions in natural disaster management. It is exactly that genuine spirit of selfless contribution and solidarity to the fellow citizen that has allowed our country to hold in many difficult situations. The State thanks you and never forgets you.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Armed Forces Reserve constitutes the living shield of the Country against any external enemy. It could not be otherwise, because for Greece, from ancient times, the ultimate obligation and honour of a citizen is military service. It was reserve soldiers those who, through struggles and sacrifices, contributed to the expansion of the country to reach its current borders, those who proved in action the words of Kostis Palamas that “the greatness of the peoples is not measured by the acre; it is measured by the heart’s fieriness and blood”.
We see, though, that in all recent conflicts worldwide, from the Middle East to Ukraine, it is the enlisted soldiers and reservists who are called to carry the burden of a prolonged struggle, disputing the opinion that there is no place for them in the complex and technologically developed battlefields of the 21st century. It is, one could say, a vindication for Greece, which has relied for decades, in addition to the career military personnel, on enlisted soldiers serving as Privates or Officers and reservists. The reservists participate regularly in exercises and training activities of the Armed Forces and constantly upgrade their combat readiness. Of course, at the same time, they greatly contribute to society through organisations like the Armed Forces Reserve Officers’ Association of Attica.
So, I can say without doubt that the Armed Forces Reserve is an extremely successful institution, invaluable for the operational planning of the Armed Forces, and important for broader social cohesion. Greece invests seriously in the Reserve and the General Staffs are in close contact with the reservists, who are an integral part of all plans for crisis or conflict.
Surely, the appreciation that this government shows for the work of the reservists is incorporated in its general policy for the upgrade of the Armed Forces, which we hope to make the most powerful in modern Greek history. In this context, the order for twenty-four state-of-the-art “Rafale” aircraft and three “Belhara” frigates is implemented. For this reason, our F-16 fighters are upgraded to the latest “Viper” configuration.
Besides, we strongly believe that our strength is multiplied through strong alliances. In this area, during the past few years, we have made great progress, through tightening our bonds with regional and global partners, with whom we share common principles and values. I will indicatively mention the enhancement of the country’s strategic relation with the USA, through the amendment of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement, the signing of the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement with France, in order to establish a strategic partnership for defence and security cooperation, the MoU for Air and Sea Search and Rescue with Egypt, the Agreement of the establishing an International Flight Training Centre with Israel, and of course, Greece’s participation in many international exercises and joint training activities with allied states. So, our country is at the moment a “giant” of defence diplomacy and is internationally recognised as the main pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
But beyond the emblematic armaments programs and its diplomatic initiatives, this government has undertaken initiatives focused on enlisted soldiers, like the establishment and operation of Lifelong Learning Centres within military structures, for the acquisition of professional qualifications by enlisted soldiers or the provision of training and certifications for digital and other qualifications for enlisted soldiers through the use of Information Technologies for qualification development, thus providing them with the opportunity to use skills learnt during their military service in their future professional career. We intend to continue in this direction, building a strong Greece, where we all feel safe!
Dear guests, this is a great honour for me. Personally, I was really touched, and I want to assure you that the appreciation and friendship that you showed me is mutual. On behalf of the State, allow me to express my sincere gratitude, because every time your country needed you, you were there. We are looking forward to and count on your support in the future”.
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Head of the Region of Attica for West Athens, Mr. Andreas Leotsakos, who represented the Head of the Region, the Mayor of Haidari Mr. Evangelos Diniakos, the President of the Union of Retired Army Officers, Lieutenant General Stavros Koutris (ret.), and delegations of Armed and Security Forces officers.
