The Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis observed the Hellenic Navy’s operational training activities, on Monday 18 March 2019, aboard the PSARA Frigate. The training was conducted in the wider region of the Saronic Gulf.

The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Christos Christodoulou and the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis.

The Minister of National Defence congratulated the ship captains and crews of the participating units, on their high morale, professionalism and effectiveness. Furthermore, he once more ascertained the qualitative supremacy of the personnel, noting that, like all the other members of the Armed Forces, the Hellenic Navy’s personnel does its best by serving its grand national calling. Thanks to its never-ending effort and often under aggravating circumstances, it daily accomplishes its high mission at a national and international level. The Minister stressed that the basic goal of the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence is the continuous care for personnel welfare. The pertinent bill promoted by the Ministry, with arrangements regarding the Armed Forces personnel, is part of the aforementioned goal.

              Moreover, he underlined the fact that an unstable regional environment is recently observed, characterised by fragile balances in our geopolitical space. That is why the promotion of Greece’s role as a pillar of stability and guarantor of security in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans constitutes the most crucial priority. The Armed Forces contribute to this national effort, through the exercise of active defence diplomacy. Having undertaken a key role in the promotion of international defence cooperations, they function as a communication channel between the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

The on camera statement of the Minister of National Defence has been uploaded to the Ministry’s website.