The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos declared the commencement of the one-day conference, today Wednesday 30 March 2022, which was co-hosted by the National Defence College and the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” on the central issue of: “Strategic Choices of Eleftherios Venizelos in Foreign Policy”, at the amphitheatre of the Athens War Museum.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Chardalias, the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis and the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the War Museum Mr Anastasios Liaskos and the General Director of the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” Mr Nikolaos Papadakis attended the conference:

During his speech, the Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos mentioned the following:

“Ladies and gentlemen,

It is indeed a great honour and pleasure for me to attend the one-day conference hosted by the National Defence College in cooperation with the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos”, so that, through the following fascinating session, lessons will come to the surface from the analysis of the strategic choices of Eleftherios Venizelos, pertaining to Foreign Policy.

Forasmuch as the audience is eagerly waiting for the session to begin, at that stage of the procedure, as I would have felt in their position, and not for yet another address, I will merely focus on three or four points which I think we should consider in order to better discern the personality of the great Leader, the greatest, if you will, of the politicians who truly carved our country’s path, especially in Greece’s modern history and I would like to say this:

Let us keep some points in mind.

First, the vision, meaning the splendid strategic thinking! The Great Idea, Greece of the two continents and five seas!

Second, the strategic aiming. How to realise your vision, the vision you have for your Homeland through the proper choices, meaning to stand on the right side of history, as we often hear these days. The providence, the aiming for Greece to join an international political system with intense instability tensions, as it was later proven with the outbreak of World War I, that Greece would take the right side. The choice, let us say, of the naval forces, (mainly England), given the special circumstances and the goals of the country as a naval power and a commercial crossroads itself, was of course proven correct.

Third, outreach, reliability and negotiation capability! How by cultivating very close relations with the Leaders of the countries which chose to be the country’s allies, how by convincing them that those countries’ interests –and of Greece- converge, led to national beneficial results.

Fourth, the wit, the diplomatic manoeuvres, the man’s reliability as a valid interlocutor of the Great Powers. Agility and adjustability, especially in times when, let us say, he had no negotiation advantage. The way he negotiated so as to minimise the damage and maximise the benefits after the national disaster.

And finally, the last point which refers not only to Eleftherios Venizelos but, in my humble opinion, is the key condition for the country to move forward and achieve victories. You are well aware that our country, in its centuries-old history, especially in the modern era, interchangeably achieves major national victories but also suffers severe national disasters. Whenever we achieved historic and major national victories, I believe that three key elements concurrently applied:

• First, strong and resolute leadership.

• Second, the highest possible morale for the people, national unity, a collective feeling pushing the people to participate in the major national efforts with all they got. That also had certain highly beneficial national results, and

• Third, powerful Armed Forces which assisted in the people’s effort.

Eleftherios Venizelos, through the path he carved, had the required abilities and contributed to these three elements. He himself constituted, of course, a powerful leadership! He inspired through his leadership and through his example the national collective morale and he decisively contributed, as was correctly mentioned, to the establishment of powerful Armed Forces so that they could also greatly contribute to the major national effort, the realisation of the great national ideas and of his vision.

That is why Eleftherios Venizelos will perhaps be remembered as the most remarkable figure of our modern political History. I suppose that the above will be analysed by the esteemed speakers in the following sessions with the two panels.

Finally, looking back at my speech, I should not fail to warmly thank the National Defence College and the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” for hosting this one-day conference. To thank all the participants, as well as the Chairman of the War Museum for the hospitality in this emblematic venue.

I am more than convinced that we will all grow wiser due to this conference and that the most substantial and valid conclusions and lessons will be extracted for the drafting of the National Strategy, in the field of the Armed Forces, as well as the field of Foreign Policy. If the goal is for the country to have and process its National Strategy in turbulent times in a complex, perhaps more complex than ever, and potentially destabilising geopolitical environment, as the one we face today, then I think that the example of Eleftherios Venizelos has only to teach and inspire us.

With these words I declare the commencement of this conference and I invite to the floor, to make perhaps a first apposition instead of address, the good friend and esteemed colleague, the honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs”.

During his speech, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Chardalias stressed the following:

“I am particularly honoured and joyful to attend with you today, the conference dedicated to Eleftherios Venizelos, an illustrious Greek politician, legal practitioner, diplomat and shaper of our country’s developments.

I congratulate the National Defence College and the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” for this significant initiative, which will shed light on aspects of the history of Greece, as well as on elements of the idiosyncrasy of a grand and multifaceted Greek politician, who has left his indelible mark in the domestic as well as international political scene.

The contribution of the Cretan politician in the wider geographic, and not only, expansion of the Greek state, is considered crucial. It was the acumen, the genius, his daring and decisiveness, which spurred him on the undertaking of critical actions. Characterised by inexhaustible faith in his capabilities and with iron will, he constituted the rock of our homeland in difficult times, requiring international actions and decisions that few people could undertake. His range exceeds the limits of Greece, since his activity pertained, to a great extent, to actions abroad.

Apart from the aforementioned capabilities, his wider strategy at the diplomatic as well as military level, played a significant role in the shaping of his policy. These are issues which will be analysed more thoroughly by the esteemed speakers. However, at this point I would like to stress that in his successful course, the decisive factors, apart from his exquisite knowledge of the geopolitical environment and the international scene, were his superb capability to participate in talks and negotiations at the highest level, mainly abroad. This fact constituted a significant factor for the national successes that followed, in combination with the upgrade of the Hellenic Army.

Understanding of the need to reorganise the military service, greatly contributed to the development of the Greek democratic state. The tranquility which came about in the circles of the army set the foundations for the consistency, unity and better preparation for the coming days (two World Wars, Asia Minor Campaign). The reorganisation drove the troops to outreach, since basic training was mainly provided by French military personnel, while basic principles of organisation and operation were integrated, increasing the battle-worthiness of the Army as well as the Navy. Besides, he himself was characterised by passionate patriotism, which however did not affect his political intuition. On the contrary, it functioned as a motive for national contribution and it was transmuted to remarkable zeal and enthusiasm.

His immense contribution, however, lies in the decisive expansion of the Greek territory and the securing of the terms and conditions of peace and good neighbourly relations with Turkey, through the signing of significant treaties and agreements. From a diplomatic perspective, all these achievements could be characterised as glorious deeds, given the limited power of Greece at the time. They constitute for us, the younger generation, models of exemplary, ingenious and patriotic leadership, proving his genius, his multifaceted personality and his capabilities.

One could talk endlessly about the charismatic politician Eleftherios Venizelos and his decisive contribution to the course of the Greek state. I am handing over the panel to the experts, wishing that all of us will keep being taught by his works and deeds, the quality of his words and his incomparable and undying passion for contribution and national integration”.

During his speech, the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros stressed the following:

“With particular pleasure I stand among you in the venue of the War Museum, for the One-day Conference on the issue of “The Strategic Choices of Eleftherios Venizelos in Foreign Policy” co-hosted by the National Defence College and the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos”.

Today’s event takes us to a historical period during which the greatest national achievements and the most rigorous times happened together for Modern Greece. Our ancestors witnessed with exultation, in the beginning of the 20^th century, centuries-old national desires being fulfilled, but at the same time they were destined to suffer major national misfortunes.

The figure of Eleftherios Venizelos indubitably occupies a dominant position in this period. From October 1910, when he became the Prime Minister and for the next 25 years, this charismatic leader sealed with his strategic choices the course of Modern Greece. Gifted with a composed strategic mentality and a unique political intuition and genius, Venizelos worked responsibly, methodically, patiently and with unique fierceness at the international fora, for the promotion of the national interests and the fulfilment of the national goals.

One of his first initiatives, as soon as he took office, was the reorganisation and enhancement of the Country’s Armed Forces on land, at sea and in the air, in a time when the Air Force was still nascent. Moreover, he assumed the administration of the Ministries of Military and Naval Affairs, a fact which proves the huge significance he attributed to the factor of military power. As a result of his care for the Armed Forces, their combative might reached the highest level within two years, a fact which set up the ideal conditions for the Greek epic of the Balkan Wars.

During his time Greece grew, it doubled its territory and population, while at the same time its international position was significantly upgraded, since areas with particular geopolitical significance were liberated and annexed to it. The right strategic choice for the Country to enter Word War I on the side of the Entente forces, was next, since with his intuitiveness he predicted that in that way the national interests would be better served in the future. And he was fully vindicated regarding that choice.

The end of World War I fortunately found Greece on the side of the victors, despite the adventures of the National Schism, with the Hellenic Armed Forces having decisively contributed to the allied victory at the Balkan fronts. The conditions shaped then, were considered by Venizelos as conducive so as to fulfil centuries-old national visions.

Greece of the “two continents and five seas” was largely an essential achievement of his foreign policy, since thanks to his oratorical and diplomatic aptitude he won everyone over in August 1920 in Sevres, during the negotiations for the signing of the Treaty of the same name.

Three years later and under the unfavourable conditions of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, in Lausanne as a delegate of the Hellenic Government of the time, he managed with his diplomatic aptitude to abate, where possible, the unfavourable consequences for Greece, so that no losses would occur of vital national territory.

His contribution to the Homeland has been indubitably immense and is acknowledged today by everyone. Venizelos was handed a small Greece and managed to take it one breath away from its full national integration.

For the end I would like to cite his eternal and everlasting words, words of a great Leader, which he addressed on 5 October 1912 to the Officers and the crews of the Aegean Fleet, a few moments before they sailed away from Faliro for the naval operations of the Balkan Wars:

“I assure you that I am envious of the position of each and every one of you, even of the mere sailors, because the Homeland is entrusting you all with its fortune, with great optimism. The Homeland demands of you, not just to die for it. That would be the least you could do• It demands that you win…. And you will win… I am more than certain”.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the General Director of the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” Mr Nikolaos Papadakis, as well as the Administration of the National Defence College for the exquisite co-hosting of today’s Conference.

Furthermore, I am certain that the esteemed speakers of both scheduled sessions, will shed light on all the aspects of Eleftherios Venizelos foreign policy, communicating to us the multidimensional strategic thinking and the unique personality of this truly Great Greek”.