The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended the Reserve Officer status and Honorary Lieutenant Commander rank awarding ceremony to ship-owner Vasileios Pateras, as recognition for his contribution to the Armed Forces.

The ceremony took place in the Supreme Naval Council Hall “THEMISTOKLIS” of the Hellenic Navy General Staff.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, MP and Secretary of the Political Committee of the New Democracy Party Konstantinos Kyranakis, MP Ioannis Pappas, MP and Honorary Chief HNDGS, Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis (ret.), the Chief HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief HAFGS, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, Honorary Chief HNDGS, General Konstantinos Floros (ret.), General Officers, Honorary Hellenic Navy Commodore and President of the “Athina I. Martinou Non-Profit Civil Partnership” Ioanna Martinou, former President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping Dr. Georgios D. Pateras, as well as family members of Mr. Pateras.

In his address, Mr. Dendias stated the following:

“It is a great pleasure for me to be here today, in this ceremony, where Vasilis Pateras is awarded the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Commander. I would like to tell you that Vasilis is not only worthy of honour for his contributions, but also for everything he has sparked through his constant calling for support towards our Country’s Armed Forces, something that he also did here today before all of us.

That is a conscious attitude of responsibility towards the Country, the hardships that it faces, and a conscious choice to support the women and men of the Armed Forces.

I do not want to mention the series of donations by Vasilis Pateras, but there is a common denominator in all of them: the person serving the Country. His donations regard education, the daily life, and their effectiveness when carrying out a mission.

Because we all believe and know, that the strength of the Armed Forces is not limited to and described by the sum of our weapons systems. No matter how much Artificial Intelligence and technology advance, the Armed Forces always rely on their personnel, the women and men who have dedicated their lives to protecting and keeping all of us, our Country, our statutory borders, our boundaries, our sovereignty, and our sovereign rights safe.

As Vasilis very eloquently pointed out, allow me to repeat that there are Greeks, important Greeks, who decide to donate the little they can afford or their budget surplus to the Armed Forces.

The influx of donations to the Ministry proves that. In 2023, donations were a little above 300,000 Euro. At the moment we are – if I recall correctly – at 58 million Euro within 2026, exceeding 116 million Euro in total. Also, an additional donation for the Hellenic Army Career NCO Academy will help us exceed 60 million Euro within the current year and 120 million Euro in total.

However impressive this amount sounds, it is a drop in the ocean when compared to the income of wealthy Greeks. I am glad that there are many wealthy among our fellow citizens and co-patriots. Nevertheless, I call upon them once again to join our common effort to protect their homeland, the place they live in, and the way of life of our fellow citizens, just like Vasilis did recently. This is exactly what the Armed Forces of our Country are doing.

Mr. Pateras, dear Vasilis, Lieutenant Commander,

I would like to thank you deeply for your donations. I would also like to thank Ioanna and, I must say, the Martinos family altogether. The Martinos family belongs to the good few Greek ship-owners contributing to the Armed Forces. I have said it in the past that these good few must become more.

Vasilis, I would like to thank you for the example that you set and the motivation that you provide to other powerful people, in order for them to contribute as well. The Country acknowledges your contribution and honours you today. Lieutenant Commander, may you always be well!”.