Τhe Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos accompanied by HAGS Chief Lt General Alkiviadis Stefanis officially declared 2017 as “ Year of Reservists and Territorial Guards”, on a special ceremony held in Rhodes. The Minister in his address stated the following:

 “ I am extremely happy to be here in Rhodes today to officially declare 2017 as “Year of Reservists and Territorial Guards”  .

First of all allow me to apologise for not keeping up to the schedule for this event, as you all know the Hellenic Armed Forces are on a daily exercise basis and they struggle in war-like conditions. Today we have  had the unfortunate crash of an aircraft , fortunately with a happy ending since the pilot ejected himself and was rescued, and I was obliged to stay behind until the search and rescue operation was completed.

I am happy because all the Chairmen of the Local Territorial Guards Associations and many Territorial Guards are with us today, whose exercises and activities I constantly and closely observe at the National Guard Battalions all over Greece and mainly in Evros and our islands.

In the beginning of the year the MoD had declared 2017 as “Year of Reservists and Territorial Guards” and already the new National Guard  HAGS Directorate has been established, which has assumed the upgrade of the National Guard role and their training activities.  This means: equipment, constant training, connection with the local society and defence planning,  which will render us ready to manage any threat against the territorial integrity of our country.
 
The Territorial Guards and the reservists are an inextricable part of the defence web of the country, and through time they have been here, in the first line of the struggle to defend the sovereign rights of our country.

They are the ones who along with the draftees of the Army Units defend our territorial integrity and national interests.  

The mission of the National Guard , beyond its contribution to the planning and the execution of the Armed Forces mission, is  to also contribute with its social activities, such is the management of emergencies.

However, its most important duty is to raise the morale of the borderline population, since their presence goes hand in hand with the history and the tradition of the local societies.

Our Territorial Guards, despite their many responsibilities and commitments at professional and family level, responsibly meet their military requirements with discipline and enthusiasm. Their presence is extremely important because they upgrade the combat ability  of the Army and, they set the example to the new generations, increasing the inextricable links between our drafted youth and the Armed Forces members.

The Armed Forces members are ready to work with the National Guard to improve the defensive planning of the country.

Our youth, with the example set by the Territorial Guards is equipped with a spirit of honour, duty and love for the country.

I am happy to be here today along with the Deputy Minister of Merchant Marine and Island Policy Mr.  Nektarios Santorinios , because I would like to remind you that the National Guard has for a number of years been based on Universal Defence, which for many years had been taken on by the Ministry of the Aegean and Island Policy, based in Mytilene.  Our objective is to include these Universal Defense plans in the Coast Guard and map out a joint policy in the defence of our islands .

We are constantly upgrading the role of our country as a stability and security factor in the wider unstable geopolitical  environment of the SE Mediterranean.

Greece is a peaceful country, we desire and we pursue good neighbourly relations with bordering countries, that said,  however, we are not willing to give up not even an inch of our national sovereignty in land, sea and air.

All provocations, mainly from Turkey are decisively and courageously  answered. From this tourist region I would like to call Turkey to realize the interest of both countries to construct relations of cooperation and peace. The provocations, the threats and the violation of International Law do not benefit neither Turkey, nor Greece. We are willing to do all it takes in the name of peace, but we will not sacrifice an inch of our national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

You, the borderline inhabitants of Dodecanese, experience this on a daily basis. Allow me to remind you that unfortunately Turkey is not respecting the basic honour codes, being provocative even on days honouring the memory of heroes, like Lt General (AF) Konstantinos Iliakis, in Karpathos, who died in action defending our country in the Aegean ; that very day Turkey was violating our national air space.

The political and military leadership of the Armed Forces acts with temperance, and planning, and we are answering to friends and foes with the oath taken by Officers, NCOs, draftees and territorial guards: “ We shall defend the flags to the last drop of our blood” . This is why I have stated in the past that the flags are not blown away by the wind, and this is the decision of the entire Greek population.

All you inhabitants of borderline islands, especially of smaller islands like Kastelorizo, which do not provide the luxuries of big cities, are executing a national duty, a national role. This role is not only served by the Territorial Guards but by their families as well , who strive under dire conditions especially in winter time. Without the islanders there is no continental shelf, there are no territorial waters.

Let me be absolutely clear, the Territorial Guards especially on the islands convey the message that the Aegean with its everlasting history will never be abandoned.

On our side we are systematically working with the military leadership of the Armed Forces to increase the operational capability of our Units, which is reinforced by our Territorial Guards.  

In every corner of our country, in Thrace, Macedonia, Epirus, echoes the resounding message of our Territorial Guards: “Defend against the Enemies”
Especially today, a day of commemoration and recollection, 564 years after the Fall of Constantinople  in 1453, these words are as more topical  than ever.  

Closing I would like to thank especially for their attendance the Mayor, the Regional Governor, the Vice-Regional Governor, the local administration of Rhodes, our MP, because the task of the National Guard is of utter importance to us and conveys a message of unity of the Greek people. Together we can convey a message of power, determination and we can secure the peace for tomorrow.  

Additionally I thank the leadership of the Hellenic Army, the Officers, NCOs and draftees; their professionalism provide the best training to our Territorial Guards which enables the National Guard to continue playing its role as part of the deterrence force of our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to declare 2017 as “Year of Reservists and Territorial Guards”, sending a message from the island of Rhodes. We all are Territorial Guards”.