On Easter Sunday, 20 April 2025, the Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias visited Lesvos, accompanied by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis.
The Minister of National Defence attended the Vespers of Agape in the Holy Metropolitan Church of St. Athanasios in Mytilini, which were officiated by the Metropolitan of Mytilini, Eressos, and Plomari, Mr. Iakovos III.
The ceremony was also attended by MP Charalambos Athanasiou, the Head of Region for Northern Aegean Konstantinos Mountzouris, and the Mayor of Mytilini Panagiotis Christofas.
Next, the Minister of National Defence visited the Surveillance Outpost “PROVOSKIDAS”, where he was received by the Commanding General of the 98th Higher National Guard Battalions Command (98th Higher National Guard Battalions Command “ARCHIPELAGO”), Major General Nikolaos Gretsas.
After his visit to the Surveillance Outpost, Mr. Dendias stated the following:
“Christ is risen! Our wishes, however, and especially this particular one, which encapsulates the most significant moment for Christianity and Orthodoxy, gain a new meaning when they are expressed from the borders of our Country, namely from here, Cape “PROVOSKIDA” in Mytilini.
It is a day of celebration, but also a day during which we must all think with gratitude and even love, if you will, of all those people who guard the borders of our Country; our Uniformed Officers. The Greek citizens who wear the honourable uniforms of the Hellenic Armed and Security Forces. Through their service to Country and society, they allow everyone else, all of us, to safely celebrate with our families on these holy days.
Once again, Christ is risen”.
Concluding his visit, the Minister of National Defence visited the 221st National Guard Battalion of Mytilini, where he attended the Easter meal and exchanged wishes with military personnel and enlisted soldiers.
While making an address to the personnel of the 221st National Guard Battalion, the Minister stated:
“The efforts made here are recognised. The “2030 Agenda” cannot be a weapons systems agenda. It has to be an “Agenda” which mainly caters for personnel. This is its multiplier. We will make it. The housing programme will continue. We have a Fiscal Programming, which renders the construction of 1,000 Officer’s quarters annually throughout Greece possible.
I hope that in due time, we will complete covering our personnel’s needs. As regards payments, I would like to say that the Prime Minister and I have agreed that funds saved will be redistributed back to the personnel. And I would like to thank the Prime Minister for accepting this as a principle for implementation.
I hope that, during the second phase of the reform, we will save even more funds, which we will be able to redistribute to our personnel, in order for them to receive a payment worthy of their priceless contribution to the Country”.
In his address to the Captains and crews of the Hellenic Navy Boats, which are docked in the Port of Mytilini for Easter attending the meal, and in particular those of Gunboat “POLEMISTIS”, and Patrol Boats “GALANIS” and “TOXOTIS”, Mr. Dendias stated:
“I would also like to thank you, Captains. We are making a great effort for the Armed Forces under the spectrum of the “2030 Agenda”. A proud part of which is the Hellenic Navy. I am sure, that when this effort has concluded, the Hellenic Navy will by at the most modern and powerful state in its history.
I know that you also make great efforts for maintaining our boats in battle-worthy condition and capable of carrying out their constitutional duties.
What I can guarantee you on behalf of the Government, is that a comprehensive effort is being made, in order to modernise the whole Fleet. The laurels of the present Hellenic Navy will work as the foundations on which we will create the most powerful Navy we have ever had. I wish you all the best. Christ is risen! Thank you very much for all your work. Thank you deeply”.
