On 28 January 2024, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, attended the memorial service of Vice Admiral Panagiotis Vlahakos HN, at Konstantinos Karamanlis Square in Piraeus, where a statue in his honour is located, as representative of the Government.

After the memorial service, which was officiated by his Eminence Archimandrite Mr Dianiil, as representative of his Eminence the Metropolitan of Piraeus, Mr Seraphim, a laying of wreaths followed.

The service was attended by MP Konstantinos Katsafados, as representative of the Head of the Hellenic Parliament, the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, the MP and brother of the fallen hero, Nikolaos Vlahakos, the MPs Stelios Petsas, Ioannis Tragakis, Dimitris Markopoulos, Ekaterini Papakosta, the Deputy Head of Region for Piraeus, Stavroula Antonakou, as representative of the Head of Region for Attica, the Deputy Head of Region for Civil Protection, Coast Guard Admiral Leonidas Manolakos (ret), and the Mayor of Piraeus, Giannis Morallis.

On behalf of the military leadership the ceremony was attended by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Choupis, and the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN.

The ceremony was also attended by the Chief of Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Georgios Alexandrakis, the Mayors of Hydra, Georgios Koukoudakis, and of Nikea – St Ioannis Rentis, Kostas Maragakis, members of the family of Panagiotis Vlahakos, Armed and Security Forces personnel, as well as representatives of Regional and Local Government and other Authorities.

During his Address, the Minister of National Defence stated:

“It is a great honour for me to attend today’s memorial service, here in Piraeus.

Today, we honour the memory of Vice Admiral Panagiotis Vlahakos HN, 28 years after the fatal night of Imia, along with the memories of Vice Admiral Christodoulos Karathanasis HN, and Captain Ektoras Gialopsos HN.

They all fell protecting the integrity of our country. Under harsh conditions, but with a sense of duty. And they paid the greatest toll; they lost their lives.

Our country honours its fallen; it keeps alive in the collective memory, the memories of those who fell with self-sacrifice and a sense of patriotic duty, and gave their lives protecting our sovereignty.

Their actions are not devoid of meaning; they constitute an example for everyone. They are an example for the newer generations of Greeks.

Ever since September 2022, the torpedo boat which bears the name of Panagiotis Vlahakos, has been sailing in the Aegean. Another torpedo boat bears the name of Vice Admiral Karathanasis, and, in a few days, we will raise the flag on a new patrol boat, which will be named “Ektoras Gialopsos”. That is because the three of them were guards of our country’s rights.

We are living in challenging times, so, by honouring their memories, we will keep on safeguarding our national integrity, and protecting our national interests, always with International and Maritime Law as our guides.

Our Navy makes its deterring capabilities evident in the broader region of the Mediterranean, and especially in Eastern Mediterranean. It has been dominant since antiquity.

It is those millennia-long foundations on which we must build the future of the Hellenic Navy.

The “2030 agenda” states the point in time when that future must be evident in operations. We need to take a step forward.

So that we prove in action, that the sacrifices of Panagiotis Vlahakos, Christodoulos Karathanasis, and Ektoras Gialopsos, as well as of many others, aren’t pointless.

The Hellenic Navy must enter a new age. And we are moving towards that direction. The first step towards that direction for the Hellenic Navy is the arrival of the Belharra frigates.

The Greek shipbuilding industry must also be reborn and utilised.

Because our goal isn’t the procurement of modern, cutting-edge boats anymore. We need to participate in the design, co-production, and building of our ships on equal terms. And that includes manned and unmanned vessels, which operate both on and below sea level.

In the meantime, as it has already been announced by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece will take part in the F-35 Programme. Another big step for our defensive shielding.

Our greatest weapon, however, and the supremacy factor for our Country, is our personnel, as it has been proved by the sacrifice of our Heroes.

We all must recognise their enormous contribution in the protection of our country.

A recognition, which is not cliché, misleading, or stated during celebrations of lesser importance. But a real, solid recognition in action.

With respect for the sacred memory of the Fallen. With appreciation of the great contribution of the Servicepeople.

Thank you”.