In an ambiance of emotion the memorial service for the seventh year since the heroic Captain’s (AF) Kostas Iliakis sacrifice took place yesterday in Karpathos Island, officiated by Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kidonias and Apokoronos. The heroic Officer of our Air Force lost his life during an operation for the interception of Turkish aircraft formation that violated the Hellenic airspace around Karpathos.
At the memorial service, wreaths were laid at the monument of Kostas Iliakis that was constructed at the Port of Karpathos Island, while F-16 aircraft low flew at formation, thus rendering tribute in remembrance of the heroic Captain.
In his speech, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos underlined:
“The example set by Kostas Iliakis, who sacrificed his life for his country, protecting National integrity and National sovereignty of the Greek airspace, should be a symbol for everyone”.
What happened seven years ago in Karpathos -as Mr. Panagiotopoulos pointed out- was not an accident, nor was it fate. It was the result of a series of continuous provocations faced by our peaceful country by our Turk neighbours.
As the Minister underlined, “nothing separates us from the simple Turkish people, they also have their own problems”. However – he added – “there are powers in the neighbour country which traditionally bring up issues such as the challenge of Greek sovereign rights; not only verbally but systematically, by sea and air”.
“The Greek Armed Forces are ready at all times” – as the Minister of National Defence emphasized. “They consolidate and ensure our sovereignty, independence and integrity. The Armed Forces are a point of reference and unity for the entire nation, for all political forces”.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos commented: “There are countries whose Armed Forces do not respect the rules of International Law and International legality and this is not something that concerns Greek-Turk bilateral relations, but Europe, the potent of this world, International Law, the United Nations Organisation. Respect to the laws, International Law and good neighbourhood relations – as the Minister concluded – should concern the entire planet”.
The memorial service for the seventh year since Captain’s Kostas Iliakis sacrifice was also attended by the following: the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Panaghiotis Karambelas, as delegate of the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, the Independent MP for the Prefecture of the Dodecanese, Mr. Emmanouil Konsolas, as delegate of the ‘Nea Demokratia’ political party, Mr. Vassileios Ipsilantis, as delegate of the Official Opposition, the MP for the Prefecture of the Dodecanese for SYRIZA political party, Mr. Dimitrios Gakis, as delegate of the PASOK political party, the MP of the prefecture of Xanthi Mr. Dimitrios Saltouros, the President of the ‘Independent Greeks’ party, MP for B’ Athens electoral district, Mr. Panos Kammenos, the MP of the Prefecture of Achaia for Independent Greeks Mr. Georgios Davris, the MP of the Prefecture of Imathia for Independent Greeks Mr. Konstantinos Giovanopoulos, as delegate of the ‘Chrissi Avgi’ political party, the MP for the Prefecture of Achaia Mr. Mihail Arvanitis, the MP for the Prefecture of Korinthia for the ‘Chrissi Avgi’ political party Mr. Efstathios Mpoukouras, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Mihail Kostarakos, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General (AF) Evaggelos Tournas, the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Efstathios Panitsidis, the brother of the late Officer Mr. Filippos Iliakis, delegates of the district of the Dodecanese and the Local Administration, delegation of the Hellenic Armed Forces’ Officers and retired Officers.
