On Monday, 28 August 2023, a farewell ceremony was held for the outgoing Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias, at the “Kapodistrias” Hall of the Ministry of National Defence, in the presence of the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikos Dendias.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, the General Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence, Mr. Antonios Ikonomou, the representative of the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros, the Deputy Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Vice Admiral Fraghiskos Leloudas HN, the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Themistoklis Bourolias, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Angelos Choudeloudis, the representative of the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Ioannis Drymousis HN, Rear Admiral Konstantinos Vlachos HN, and other officials.

In his address, the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikos Dendias, stated the following:

“We are here today for something both good and bad.

I am referring to Nikos Chardalias’s leaving the position of Deputy Minister of National Defence to run for Head of the Region of Attica, the country’s largest Region, accepting the honorary proposal of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Allow me to say outright that I can’t be objective. I have been close to Nikos Chardalias for many years, I’ve known him since he was Mayor of Vyronas, a very successful local government official.

Since then, we have cooperated in various ways. Our relationship is one not only of friendship, but also of mutual esteem which, within the framework of this Mitsotakis government, also became one of close cooperation.

I had the opportunity to see for myself during this short period that, beyond his well-known capabilities, Nikos Chardalias is a man of duty.

I should say that he had been assigned a very important project for the Ministry of National Defence, the development of the defence industry. The matter of innovation, the matter of creation, in cooperation with Israeli know-how, of a new ecosystem which we hoped and still hope to create a new reality in this area for our country.

Nikos chose to serve the country from another important position. For us, that is a loss. This important project must now be carried on by Giannis Kefalogiannis and myself, with the help of the General Secretary.

Dear Nikos, we would rather do this together, but we totally understand.

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, personally, but I think I represent everyone on this, for your service all these years, not only for the short period we served together, but also for the greater period you served with our common friend, Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

And let me tell you that we are certain, not only of your success, but also of the way in which you will continue to serve the country, society, and the interests of the country and the people.

Thank you very much”.

The outgoing Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias, stated the following:

“Dear Minister, dear Deputy Minister, dear General Secretary, dear General Directors, Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, friends, dear Armed Forces officers, I come to this farewell ceremony today with mixed feelings.

It is true that during all my years in local government and the government I always bonded with the people with whom we served the same purpose. And I have mixed feelings because, after two excellent years at the Ministry of National Defence, where a lot was done in cooperation with the previous political leadership and a lot was programmed during these few weeks we have served with our Minister, Nikos Dendias, with the help of the Armed Forces officers and the Staffs.

Dear Minister, I did not have the opportunity to serve with you for a long time, but I would like to publicly thank you for our cooperation all these years from other positions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in critical times, if you will; you were always there, your advice was always necessary, always important for me and I’d like you to know that I will try to be useful to the efforts of the country’s Armed Forces from any position in which I may serve.

Dear Deputy Minister, Dear General Secretary, know that in me you will find someone who will always support you as a common active citizen; I would also like to publicly thank the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, who is in Evros on a government mission today, as well as the Chiefs of Staff, because with them I became a better Deputy Minister, but also a better person as an active citizen.

The system of values of the Armed Forces is a unique system that teaches, beyond discipline, beyond respect, the way to tackle problems everyday, solve them, and move on.

Through this synergy, through this cooperation, I can say that I became a better person and these small and large legacies from my four years of government service will accompany me in my next steps.

Steps with which I hope to continue to be useful. Steps which bring me closer to the neighbourhoods we grew up in, the neighbourhoods we serve, steps which bring me closer to something I’ve always loved, which is being beside people, citizens, their neighbourhoods, under difficult conditions, being able to solve problems together.

Thank you very much once again. I would like to publicly thank the Prime Minister for his trust during the past four years.

I did everything I could to accomplish the difficult endeavours and missions he assigned to me. Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis, my first Minister, because he was always there when things got difficult.

Nikos Panagiotopoulos, because with his guidance we were able to accomplish many things and you, Minister, for embracing me in a unique manner and always being helpful with your advice.

The last time I was here, I said ‘see you again soon’. Call it intuition, but I felt that I will continue this effort somehow.

Now I can’t say that. I say goodbye.

Thank you”.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Ioannis Kefalogiannis, stated the following:

“Dear colleague, dear friend Nikos, I would also like to wish you good luck in the duties I am certain you will soon undertake.

I would also like to say that I was very lucky for our cooperation, not only during this short period at the Ministry of National Defence following the honorary proposal of the Prime Minister who assigned us these duties, but also much earlier.

In fact, I remember at the start of the Pandemic, myself being Deputy Minister of Transport during critical times for our country, we pulled through and kept the country on its feet.

And I would like to thank you for your kind friendship for which I am honoured. I am certain that you will do great in the duties you will undertake in a few weeks, acting with the same eagerness and energy as previously, and we are proud of what you will do for the Region of Attica.

I wish you good health and all success in the coming elections”.

The General Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence, Mr. Antonios Ikonomou, stated the following”

“Dear Minister, dear Deputy Ministers, Chiefs of General Staff, ladies and gentlemen.

I have attended many similar ceremonies in this hall. Today, however, I bid farewell to a uniquely dynamic and energetic man who had a very successful tenure in local government, then successfully served in the central government, and now returns to familiar waters, aiming at being elected to the key position of Head of the Region of Attica, which he is certain to win.

Nikos, I am certain that in this new endeavour you will give your all, with eagerness and devotion to the society that will support you, endorsing this new endeavour.

Your qualities of persistence, dedication, and effectiveness will undoubtedly guarantee your success in this mission, just like the previous ones which were also admittedly successful.

I would like to thank you for our cooperation here at the Ministry and mainly for your absolute trust right from the start and allow me to wholeheartedly wish you good luck and strength in your new struggle that begins now.

Let me remind you that we met and cooperated at the start of a similar struggle and today we renew this cooperation at the start of another similar struggle.

Good luck».