“Officers, NCOs, Privates, Seamen, Airmen, National Guards and Civilian Personnel,

The 21st of November is the feast of the Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary and, except for a major Orthodox feast, it is also a day of acknowledgement and honour of the Armed Forces by the Greek people. The Armed Forces have been related with the glorious history of our country and they have impressed the entire world with Greeks’ passion for freedom and democracy. This history makes us all proud. This history teaches us.

It is the glorious and immortal fallen of the Armed Forces that we commemorate today. Their sacrifice is an example for the future generations. The Ministry of National Defence is concerned with demonstrating their heroic deeds as a small tribute for their offer to our nation.

Our Armed Forces did not only write pages of glory and heroism while defending freedom and national ideals across time, but they continue to hold our flag high until today, by standing up to the expectations and confidence of the Greek people.

Greeks have great confidence in the Armed Forces, whereas our allies and partners respect them and they praise their skills and their participation in international operations.

Women and men of the Armed Forces,

You are worthy descendants of our ancestors and you deserve to be honoured because you have dedicated your lives to defending the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the country.

Particularly, at this time period of significant disputes and unpredictable subversions in our area and in the wider area of Southeastern Mediterranean Sea, it is crucial to deal with challenges with composure, to have unity, national concord, decisiveness and to perform our duties.

This is what our powerful Armed Forces guarantee, with their high level personnel who are always ready and determined to accomplish their important and difficult mission consistently. It is a mission which, in peace time and in war time, is the same for all the personnel and all the conscripts who are steadfast guards of our Land, together with the National Guards and the reservists, and always declare their presence on the front line of the combat to defend our country’s sovereignty rights.

We should not forget this saying: “If you seek peace, prepare yourself for war”. This is achieved through training and other activities which simulate real war conditions and which I always watch together with the military leadership.

What the government seeks for is the security of the Greek nation and I am speaking of nation because we should not forget about Cypriot Greeks whose security we have committed ourselves irrevocably to ensure.
      
This feeling of security is consolidated every day in our society through the everyday contribution of the Armed Forces to the community, in search and rescue missions, air evacuations and fire fighting, in providing assistance in natural disasters, in their significant contribution to the refugee issue and in other activities as well. The excellent professionalism of the personnel and our conscripts is a substantial support of the Greek society and, mostly, of residents of remote areas. Our objective is to continuously reinforce the effectiveness and the flexibility of using the capabilities of the Armed Forces to the benefit of Greek citizens, without the Armed Forces deviating from their primary mission, that is defending our territorial integrity and national independence.

The political and military leadership, on their part, they have programmed significant initiatives in key sectors of defence and our planning is made in the long term. We proceed with implementing targeted and essential interventions and changes which strengthen our national defence system.  

This is our primary obligation since our country cannot afford distracting its attention from the security challenges which arise all the time in its geopolitical surroundings.

At a political level, we implement all the necessary actions for Greece to be in the core of decisions at a European and Euroatlantic level.

Women and men of the Armed Forces,

Beyond every modern weapon system, a determining factor for the accomplishment of a mission and the enhancement of combat force is man. It is the military and civilian personnel of the Armed Forces that support them. And it is you we invest in and we ought to invest in, in the future.
 
The Ministry of National Defence tries to find solutions to many problems that you, who guard our country all day long at land, sea and air, are facing. The care for the personnel is a key pillar of our policy.

Over the two and a half last years, aiming to deal with personnel’s problems effectively, action has been taken regarding their promotions and career, their assignments, their housing, health care and support for their families.

We will continue our multifaceted activities and strengthen our efforts for the personnel and the conscripts to live in the best possible conditions in all aspects.

Women and Men of the Armed Forces,

With a national vision, we all ought, each one in his sector, to contribute to the effort of reinforcing our national defence and keeping Greece as a power of peace, security and stability in the area.

We owe you gratitude for working with zeal and devotion loyal to the values of the Greek civilization and willing to offer to community, often under adverse conditions, in order for the Greek citizens to feel safe and be concerned with their peaceful activities.        
        
I advise you to continue your work with high morale and I wish that Virgin Mary whom we honour today, always give strength to you, to your families and to the Greek people.
                                             
Long live the Armed Forces.
                                                     
Long live our nation”.