Officers, NCOs, Soldiers, Seamen, Airmen, National Guardsmen, Reservists and Civilian Personnel of the Armed Forces,
Today, the Orthodox Church majestically celebrates the Feast of Virgin Mary’s Presentation to the temple, and our Nation honours the Armed Forces’ contribution to the country.
We pay tribute to the immeasurable fallen who, showing patriotism and self-sacrifice, offered the ultimate good, their life, for the ideals and values of the Greek Nation.
We honour the patroness of the Armed Forces, the Invincible General, under whose auspices our ancestors defended all that is sacred for our Nation, with abundant bravery and courage.
Throughout our Nation’s course in modern history, which is alive with struggles, the Country’s freedom along with faith in Orthodoxy have both been notions indissolubly interrelated and ingrained in the Greek peoples’ conscience.
Women and men of the Armed Forces,
On the occasion of today’s celebration, we pay tribute to the timeless contribution of the Armed Forces to our country, aiming at ensuring peace and freedom; a mission which demands readiness and powerful deterrent force, so that they can effectively respond to all circumstances.
Our country’s geopolitical position, within a dynamically evolving and particularly demanding international environment, calls for efficient Armed Forces enabling it to implement its foreign and defence policy with prudence and stability, persisting to being a pillar of prosperity and security in the broader area.
The Armed Forces, fully and effectively responding to their hard and multi-faceted mission, guarantee to our Country’s citizens their secure living, free from any external threats.
Embracing our role and responsibility as political leadership, we promote a series of key initiatives, with which we aim at enhancing the Armed Forces’ operational readiness, as well as at promoting the personnel’s training, so that it will be able to fulfill its mission under the best possible conditions.
Moreover, in the context of measures implemented by the Government for the shaping of a broader policy which will assist the citizen’s everyday life, for the current year -which is devoted to Social Contribution- we have achieved to significantly enhance the Armed Forces’ role to one of the cornerstones of social life, through their multifarious contribution; I would like to congratulate you all on that.
Women and men of the Armed Forces,
Always remember, at any post you are serving from, that you are defending Freedom and Democracy –the fundamental values of our Nation–, against anyone who might covet our national interests and wish to overset peace and stability in the area. It is something you are proving everyday, by defending the country’s sovereign rights against any challenge, wherever it may come from.
Always remember that you are the key pillar of the goal I have set since the very first day I assumed this post: to have modern and combat-ready Armed Forces which are based on its personnel, characterised by qualitative supremacy and high morale.
Always remember that you are the force to deter anyone who might covet our Country’s sovereign rights and territorial integrity; I am certain that you will be the force to win, whenever it might be required.
The high level of professionalism and your constant readiness are two elements I ascertain by personally observing national and multinational exercises you participate in, collecting complimentary comments from Allies and third countries as well, thus proving the combat-readiness of the Hellenic Armed Forces.
As Minister of National Defence, I have the responsibility, the duty, but also the will to provide for your needs, and for your families’ needs. I am devoted to carry on and assume all necessary actions, so as to facilitate your everyday life and offer you the possibility to perform undistracted your hard task.
On such a day, but also on any other day, my thoughts are with all of you who are far away from your families, performing such a demanding, hard and important job.
I invite you to carry on, with the same ardour and devotion, contributing to the society, whenever it is needed; please remember that the Greek people, whom you are serving, loves and trusts you.
I am certain that, whenever needed, you will prove yourselves worthy of the people’s trust and of our ancestors’ sacrifices.
Many happy returns to everyone.
Long live the Armed Forces.
Long live the Nation.
THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE
NIKOLAOS PANAGIOTOPOULOS
