The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, today, Wednesday 4 November 2026, attended the presentation ceremony of the redevelopment of the central building of the Ministry of National Defence’s North Facade, at “FIELD MARSHAL ALEXANDROS PAPAGOS” Camp.
The design of the new bioclimatic North Facade, which has contributed to the aesthetic upgrade of the central building and limits energy consumption, bears the stamp of distinguished Greek sculptor, and Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Varotsos. The redevelopment was made possible by a generous donation by Piraeus Bank S.A.
In combination with the Ark of National Memory (presented on 26 March 2025), the redevelopment of the surroundings and the bioclimatic facade of the central entrance of the Ministry of National Defence (whose unveiling ceremony was held on 29 October 2025), today, with the presentation of the North Facade’s presentation, the central building’s external restructuring is completed.
The works of redeveloping the surroundings are also complete with the creation of green spaces, as well as with the new architectural lighting. The lighting scheme was a result of the cooperation of Mr. Varotsos and Eleftheria Deko.
Meanwhile, the renovation of the central building’s interior is ongoing, in order to improve the working conditions and transform the Ministry of National Defence into one of the most modern, functional and aesthetically pleasing Ministries.
At the ceremony, addresses were made by the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, the Professor – Sculptor Konstantinos Varotsos, and Piraeus Bank CEO Christos Megalou.
In his address at the ceremony Mr. Dendias stated:
“I would not be stating something novel if I told you that the country’s Armed Forces were in need of a radical transformation.
We are all aware that we have rested in an intellectual and functional stagnation, on doctrines and conceptions which became obsolete by the end of the 20th century.
Meanwhile, in the first two decades of the 21st century, a massive technological revolution has occurred, which alongside the application of Artificial Intelligence is accelerating.
Especially in the Defence sector all has changed.
The “Agenda 2030”, whose application began in January 2024, is the Greek State’s answer to this global revolution.
It is an effort for the total reform of everything in the Defence sector.
The main gambit behind this effort is the capability of Hellenism to defend its geographical and constitutional borders and Greek citizens’ security.
I have often had the opportunity to mention the novel five level approach, applied in the framework of the “Agenda 2030”.
Land, Sea, Air, Cyberspace, Space.
I have often explained in detail the aim of the sought after holistic, multi-level approach of “C5ISRT”, Command, Control, Compute, Communicate, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Targeting, instead of the previous generation’s one, known as “C4I”, which, however, has not been applied by us.
You have seen the choices we have made, with the 4 + 1 bills we have already voted, unprecedented and transformative in the Defence sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have transformed an antiquated system, and created a virtuous model, applicable to all the Public sector.
A new, constantly evolving Structure of Forces.
And for the first time in our history, a Long Term Armaments Programme of 20 years.
The Greatest Housing Programme in the history of the Modern Greek State, so that all our personnel have a house when transferred.
The effort for the total Upgrade of benefits to our personnel.
The distribution to our personnel of the dividends raised by our internal savings, which took place last year, and which we hope to repeat this year, following the approval of the new savings generated by the evolution of the Structure of Forces.
And I do not want to forget the Ministry’s civilian employees, who deserve the same as the other civil servants, such as the 100 euro allowance for example.
The great effort for reform and savings was supported by the Military Leadership and the General Staffs. An effort wherein all our personnel participated, the women and men of the Armed Forces and the Ministry’s Civilian Employees.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Every important human endeavour, however, requires a human dimension.
A monumental depiction of the change that occurred.
For it is monuments that showcase and record institutions and the perceptions these institutions express through time, in historical and common human memory.
This was taught to society, history and humanity by our ancestors.
A product of this perception is the timeless Greek Monumental Masterpiece, the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis.
Memories are usually created and built as new concepts, since they usually always express new perceptions.
They narrate a story from the beginning thus.
They showcase the institution which created them, and characterise it in the most limpid way, expressing its philosophy.
They are a way to see through them.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The “Agenda 2030”, as I told you previously, is radically reforming one of the most important institutions of our Nation’s existence.
The Armed Forces of Hellenism.
The Armed Forces, however, did not have the possibility of an ex nihilo conception of the roof of their Ministry.
They inherited one of the most faceless, and to be frank, in the passage of time, aesthetically repulsive public edifice.
Yet here, as Kostas Varotsos said previously, a miracle occurred.
For, the transformation of ugliness, arbitrariness, abandonment, resignation into monumental architecture is a veritable miracle.
The transformation of energy consuming cement into a bioclimatic reality and conception is a miracle.
The transformation of the poorly maintained and aesthetically abused post-war hospital into a monumental expression of a great, nationally necessary reform is a miracle.
The transparent monument to the Country’s Fallen, which safeguards their sacred Memory as a clear prayer to the Heavens is a miracle.
I dare say, that the bright and important inspiration of Kostas Varotsos, which henceforth certainly ranks him among the great creators, and to whom and whose talent and industriousness I express my deep respect and gratitude, is a miracle.
Yet another miracle is the transformation of the irregular, sad looking vehicle depot, and irregular structures in the 200km2 surrounding the Ministry into one of the largest parks of Athens, with more than 2000 trees.
And it is the Northern Facade of this miracle that I have invited you to inaugurate together.
This ongoing miracle.
And which, today, as we speak, is being developed in the interior of this huge building, the largest public edifice in Greece, standing at 67km2.
Which is being developed at its North and South Gates, which will in turn come to be two independent Works of Art.
Yet this miracle was not performed in a vacuum.
And to perform it we have not relied on the taxpayer’s hard earned money.
We relied on generous private donations.
As has often been the case in our history, to remember the Athenian Democracy, the great works, the great Athenian fleet itself relied on the institution of donations.
The donations that is, of men of means, towards the common benefit.
Today, on the day of the presentation of the building’s Northern Facade, I would like to express my gratitude to Piraeus Bank, its shareholders, its executives, and especially its CEO, Mr. Christos Megalou, for the donation of 10 million, which allowed us to create the facade, based on Kostas Varotsos’ designs.
And I recognise the emotional alignment and relationship of Christos Megalou with the big family of our Country’s Armed Forces.
Thus Piraeus Bank enters the ranks of the great donors of the Ministry of National Defence.
You will allow me to announce that next to the Church, in a discreet location, we will create the “Donors Park” to remind those who follow after us, of the donations of those who created this space.
A column will be raised bearing their names, with an olive tree for each, which will also bear their names, so that their contribution persists in memory. To the miracle of the rebirth of this place.
We have now received around 130.000.000 euros in donations as the Ministry of National Defence, which in its whole has mainly been disbursed towards improving the Armed Forces’ infrastructure.
Furthermore, I would like to tell you that today I signed a letter addressed to the Union of Greek Ship-owners.
In which I ask for and await a sizeable donation, of 250.000.000 euros, to be exclusively allocated for the acquisition of operational assets and capabilities for the Hellenic fleet.
Of course, this takes place with the total concurrence and frank encouragement of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The reformation effort is a long, arduous, and uphill struggle.
Also, as you very well know, it is not always popular. It is usually the exact opposite.
And it always comes at a cost. A political cost in particular.
It has to overcome reactions, vested interests, and obstacles.
Yet the continuation of reform in the Armed Forces, and its completion is a supreme National need, and you will allow me to state without exaggeration, a duty of every true Greek.
By 2030, we are capable, as long as we persist, of fielding the mightiest Armed Forces in the long history of Hellenism.
And the work of Kostas Varotsos will be the monument of this massive national success.
Thank you very much”.
The ceremony was also attended by the Speaker of Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, the former President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the Bishop of Christoupolis, Mr. Varnavas, as representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr. Ieronymos II, the MP, Admiral (ret.) Evangelos Apostolakis as representative of the President of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, the Minister of Development, Panagiotis (Takis) Theodorikakos, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, the Minister of Rural Development and Food Margaritis Schoinas, the Alternate Minister of Health, Eirini Agapidaki, the Alternate Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation responsible for transportation, Georgios Kotsiras, the State Secretary to the Prime Minister, Georgios Mylonakis, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for European Affairs, Anastasios Chatzivasileiou, the Deputy Minister of the Interior responsible for matters of local administration Vasileios Petros Spanakis, the Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, Konstantinos Vlassis, the Deputy Minister of the Environment and Energy, Maria-Eleni Soukouli Viliali, the Deputy Minister of Development, Stavros Kalafatis, the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, Konstantinos Karagkounis, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Ioannis Mpougas, the Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Sevasti Voloudaki, the Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, Eleni Rapti, the Deputy Ministers of Rural Development and Food, Ioannis Andrianos and Athanasios Kavvadas, the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Stefanos Gkikas, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Konstantinos Katsafados, the Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Athanasios Mpouras, the Secretary General of the New Democracy Parliamentary Group, Maximos Charakopoulos, many MPs, and the President of the Supreme Court, Panagiotis Lymperopoulos.
The ceremony was also attended by the Chief HNDGS, General Dimitrios Choupis, the Head of Region of Attica Nikos Chardalias, the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Antonios Oikonomou, the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief HNGS, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, and the Chief HAFGS, Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service, Lieutenant General Theodoros Vagias, the President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ioannis Bratakos, donors of the Armed Forces, General and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces, representatives of the Security Forces, representatives of judicial authorities and associations of judicial officers, representatives of diplomatic delegations and other Bodies.
Mayors from the region of Attica and other guests also attended.
A musical performance by the Armed Forces Band followed, with Major (Army Bands) Xenophon Mentes as the conductor.
The ceremony was presented by the journalist Maria Nikoltsiou.
