Officers, NCOs, Warrant Officers, Privates, Seamen, Airmen, National Guards and Civilian Personnel,

For the year to come, I would like to extend to you all a cordial address and my warmest wishes for health and progress to you and your families.

During the previous year, within an environment of high demands and obligations, we reinforced our defence and deterrence capability against external threats, and we have assisted the Greek society’s needs, whenever needed. It is something we managed, taking into consideration the current fiscal conditions of our country and the State’s priorities. The Armed Forces successfully responded to their original mission, which is to ensure our territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

Women and men of the Armed Forces,

In 2016, I invite you to continue our common effort to preserve the Armed Forces’ combat and deterrence capability.

Our country does not have the luxury to turn away from the security challenges constantly emerging in our geopolitical neighbourhood.

The destabilisation of state structures in North African and Middle Eastern countries and the extensive bloodshed in Syria have transformed our country into one of the last strongholds of the European continent against the propagation of extremism, extreme violence and asymmetrical threats.

Our Armed Forces’ effectiveness, combined with the excellent relations Greece has with the aforementioned North African and Middle Eastern countries provide us with a significant advantage and are a multiplier of our diplomatic power, enforcing our international position.

Moreover, against all those multifaceted threats, the Greek Armed Forces decisively contribute to the country’s security and become a vital reliance of Greek society, especially for our borderline populations, all over the Greek State.

Women and men of the Armed Forces,

For one more year, your contribution to the country and to society as well has been of particular importance. With hard work, responsibility and complete devotion to your duty, you have justified the respect, love and trust with which the Greek people embrace you.

This task will continue and further extend in 2016, as the common component of all the aforementioned actions is no other than the optimal use of the resources that the Greek people provide us, by their short supplies, so as to perform our important mission.

I would also like to underline that the Ministry of National Defence relentlessly struggles to satisfy, besides the operational needs, the justifiable needs of the Armed Forces’ personnel, since for us you are a first priority.

Experiencing with you every day the materialisation of your national mission on land, sea and in the air, I would like to personally wish that 2016 will be a year of peace, stability, creation, individual and family happiness for all of you.

      Many Happy Returns.

The Minister of National Defence
      Panos Kammenos