The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of HNGS Rear Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis, attended the inauguration of the Monemvasia Lighthouse which is a listed building, after the completion of the project’s fixing and restoration.

The Minister of National Defence made an address and he mentioned the following, among other things.
 
“I am particularly happy to be here with you today, in an event of great importance for the Hellenic Navy and the inhabitants of Movemvasia.

Here at the Movemvasia peninsula, a location of natural beauty, the Lighthouse which functions since 1897 constitutes an important part of the Greek Lighthouse Network. The restoration, protection and utilisation of this Monument signal the promotion and preservation of the Greek Maritime Tradition, which is necessary for the preservation of the Greek Cultural Heritage.

We are here with the Chief of HNDGS, the Chief of HNGS, all of the leadership of the Army, the Hellenic Navy and the Port Authority in order to attribute the honour due to the Monemvasia and Laconia, which are birthplaces of brave personalities, because unfortunately we do not have this opportunity very often.

I often receive complaints because the Armed Forces are not often present here in the Peloponnese. We are obligated to be present at the Eastern Aegean, in Thrace. The threats on behalf of Turkey, the restructuring of the Armed Forces promote our homeland’s forces to those areas which are under immediate threat.

However, that does not mean that we do not honour areas like the Movemvasia, Laconia, the Peloponnese which have contributed capable young men to the Hellenic Armed Forces, they have given heroes, they keep the flag high, they preserve tradition, they preserve the high morale and teach the young children to serve the country either as soldiers or as officers and NCOs of the Armed Forces, with a feeling of overwhelming pride.

So we want, with our presence here today, along with the military leadership, to attribute honour to all the inhabitants of Monemvasia, Laconia and the Peloponnese whom we do not often have the opportunity to visit.

With the respect due to the promotion of the topological and morphological features of this listed building and the opportunity to use the Lighthouse as an exhibition venue and museum, a project bringing beauty to the area of Monemvasia, which also guarantees the security of navigation at the Southeastern point of the Peloponnese.

One of the first priorities of our government, which constituted a basic aspect of our policy, was the extensive participation of our Armed Forces in actions for the benefit of society and their cooperation with other state structures. The high level contribution of the Armed Forces to society strengthens the bonds with it and forges social coherence. We consider being united an obligation and that is true for the Armed Forces along with the local self-government and all the bodies of our homeland, for the progress and prosperity of the citizens.

The actions by the Region of the Peloponnese, through the unreserved cooperation of its Agencies with the corresponding ones of the Ministry of National Defence, is a concrete indication of the above and the social role of the Armed Forces is once more promoted, especially when me talk about the Hellenic Navy.

Let us not forget that the history of Hellenism is directly connected to the development of naval force. Since the age of Homer our Navy, both the mercantile and the one of our Armed Forces, constituted the soul of our people and was the light – giving lighthouse for the fights of our liberation and independence of the Nation.

This reality is demonstrated today with the essential contribution of our shipping to the development of economy and the cohesion of our society. It is demonstrated with the presence of our Hellenic Navy across our seas, enhancing our country’s foreign policy, defence diplomacy and strengthening the role and position of Greece at the international environment.

I would like to congratulate the Region, the Municipality and the inhabitants of Monemvasia for their assistance and cooperation in the project “Fixing and Restoration of the Monemvasia Lighthouse as a Listed Building”, which constitutes another piece decorating the course of the Greeks’ maritime qualities and its importance for the financial, political and social development of the country.

I would like to express my warmest congratulations to the personnel of the Region of the Peloponnese, the Services of the Ministry of National Defence and the Hellenic Navy, who with coordinated efforts and excellent cooperation, gave us an integral and brilliant project, a project which will stand the test of time, thus upgrading the area.

I would also like to say that we have included in our programme all our lighthouses located at the Aegean and the Ionian Sea, so that they will be upgraded and functional.

Technology moves forward. Everyone is now a “captain” with a GPS or a Plotter and maps out routes on a screen. However, when a war crisis comes maybe all of the above will be out of order. The lighthouses will be functioning and will be the only asset which will lead the defence operations of our national and sea sovereignty. That is why Greece is stronger. That is why no one can threat our homeland through the Navy, because the maritime capabilities of the Greeks are not based on satellites or electronic assets.

Those who created the Greek mercantile shipping, who gave lessons with the Hellenic Navy, the tradition which wills Kountouriotis extending Greece’s boundaries to the double with the “AVEROF” Battleship, after a financial crisis, conducting the circumnavigation of the Eastern Aegean islands, but also our modern Hellenic Navy, which I would like to assure that is ready to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and for that we are all proud.

I would like to wish that Saint Nikolaos, Patron Saint of our sailors, will give strength to those who sail by the Monemvasia Lighthouse using it as a landmark, so that they will travel the seas safely. I wish that they have the Lighthouse at their side for help and Saint Nikolaos at their ship’s fore so that they can make Greece proud, across the oceans”.