Officers,

NCOs,

Soldiers, Seamen,

Airmen and Civilians,

I feel a great honour and pride, yet at the same time I am fully aware of the responsibility I assume, along with my distinguished collaborators, Deputy Ministers Mr. Panaghiotis Karambelas and Mr. Dimitrios Elefsiniotis, being entrusted by the Prime Minister Mr. Antonis Samaras with the duties of the Armed Forces’ leadership during a particularly critical time for our country.

I feel great respect towards the history of the Armed Forces and their glorious contribution to the Country. I honour and respect the Armed Forces which enjoy the admiration and respect of all Greek citizens.

I acknowledge the fact that our mission is exceptionally difficult. I realize that we cannot afford to fail nor experiment. We are obliged, all together, with trust, optimism and self-control, to do our best so as to reinforce our National coherence, to not allow this fiscal crisis become a crisis of National Security, to not allow any slippage to matters pertaining to our National sovereignty, to the country’s integrity and independence.

I am optimistic, since we see some steady steps already taken and, at the same time, there is the vision and the desire for hard work. We will proceed guided by the values all Greeks believe in, without prejudice that might be set by the political parties, disaccord and intolerance, but feeling social trust we will strive for the best in the Armed Forces, so as not to have breaches in the area of National Security, which will be difficult to retrieve. To this direction we must proceed all together, with responsibility, soberness, high morale and good spirit.

I know that the personnel of the Armed Forces have got both morale and spirit. Military personnel of all services have the capability of distinguishing the circumstances and they have the strength to do whatever is ordained by their duty.

I would like to assure you that I completely understand the sacrifices of the personnel in the Armed Forces and their families, which are enormous. You are worthy of respect because, despite the restriction of your living standards, you offer the maximum to your country. From our side, we will do whatever we can in order to not further burden the Armed Forces’ personnel and make your daily life less difficult than it is currently.

Women and men in the Armed Forces,

Within the current unstable and constantly changing environment, maintaining the country’s security and deterrent capability are strategic goals for modern Greece. We need to manage the challenges of the modern world with confidence and certainty, serving our national interests, world peace and stability, good neighbour relations and peaceful coexistence, while granting at the same time to the Greek citizen the safe and calm environment he needs in order to improve his quality of life, to become active in his areas of interest and to manage in the best possible way his daily life.

We will not allow this financial crisis which affects our country become a crisis of National security and sovereignty.

I ask you to carry on being devoted to your duty towards the Country and to accomplish the mission assigned to you by the Hellenic people and the Constitution of the Hellenic Republic, with faith and self-denial.

The course of reformation and reinforcement of the country’s Armed Forces shall continue.

The proper operation of structures and of leadership, discipline and observance of the rules will be strictly kept. We will form, along with the military leadership, new data to the organizational structure of the Armed Forces, we will enhance and upgrade training and we will further support our human resources, who are the basis of all actions and initiatives.

In the field of armaments – structures, rationalization and re-definition of the requirements and needs will continue, in direct interdependence to current and future challenges.

In this crucial field everything will be done with clarity and transparency, under the direct control by the pertinent Parliamentary committees and other institutional bodies, as provided by the Laws of the Hellenic State and by the Rule of Law.

Experience and the outcomes that have been gained so far will become useful means for our common endeavour, so that the final account will be as complete as possible and will respond to the initial goals as much as possible.

Our actions and exploits are guided by the principles of rational use of resources available and always follow the rules of meritocracy and transparency. In this way only will the extreme sacrifices made by the Hellenic people produce results and we will be able to continue the creative and peaceful task of the country’s Armed Forces, which are the key actor for National Power, a goal aspired by all Greek citizens with trust and high expectations.

I invite you all to contribute with even greater zest and decisiveness to this enormous common endeavour in order to further consolidate national confidence, to re-evoke hope for the best and, with the help of God, to put our country once more in the course of growth and prosperity.

My best wishes for all of us.

The Minister of National Defence

Panos Panagiotopoulos