The political and military leadership of the Ministry of National Defence attended the inauguration of missile boat “Ritsos” which took place at the premises of the Fast Attack Craft Command at Skaramagkas Naval Base.
The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos addressed the following statement:
“Reverend,
Mr. Alternate Minister of National Defence,
Members of Parliament,
Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff,
Chiefs of the General Staffs and Security Forces,
Mr. Honorary Chief,
Admirals, Officers, NCOs, Seamen,
Representatives of local authorities,
Defence Attaches of friendly and allied Embassies to Greece,
Dear relatives,
Distinguished Guests,
Workers of Elefsis Shipyard,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I feel particular honour and joy today for having the opportunity to attend the inauguration of missile boat “RITSOS” in the Fleet of the Hellenic Navy.
Today is an especially important day for the Hellenic Navy and the reinforcement of our country’s naval power which is more necessary than ever nowadays that we are surrounded by a bow of instability
The history of the Greek people is directly connected to the development of naval force. And nobody has ever expressed it better than great Thucydides in his saying “we have land and homeland when we have our ships sailing at sea”.
The presence of MPs from all political parties demonstrates that defence is a national issue. I thank them in particular for attending this inauguration, as well as the representatives of local authorities and the Defence attaches of friendly and allied countries.
Greece was, is and will be a naval power, with enormous and glorious naval tradition, in both military navy and merchant marine.
Our country has interests in every sea that surrounds us, which it will never relinquish, and historical rights that it will never abandon.
Moreover, keeping open sea communication lines, energy security for a naval country like ours, is vital for our national sovereignty. The Hellenic Navy guarantees it, at a period when over the next months and days we have to define our Exclusive Economic Zone and exploit our country’s submarine resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The completion of this work shows, in the most emphatic manner, what we can achieve when we work with responsibility, seriousness and devotion.
It shows the capabilities of the Hellenic Navy’s personnel, as well as of the Greek production base and particularly of the shipbuilding industry which is supported by the Ministry of National Defence, the government and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
This is the reason why shipbuilding industry must continue and will continue to support the Hellenic Navy by creating a healthy relation of mutual and, after all, national benefit.
At this moment, I wish to assure you that this government- as well as the Alternate Minister Mr. Vitsas and I – we will do our best for all of our shipyards to operate, in Skaramagkas, Elefsis, Perama, Syros, all over Greece. We want to build Greek ships and we will do anything for these ships to be included in the naval forces of other countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to express my gratitude to the Chief and the personnel of the Hellenic Navy because they make us proud again.
I also express my thanks to the workers of Elefsis Shipyards because thanks to their industrious efforts, their consistence and effectiveness, they contributed to our effort to reinforce our fleet.
Because, at last, it is our manpower that is the main lever for the growth we are pursuing.
Chief,
You are delivered today a modern vessel, with great capabilities, equipped with high technology. By this, the Greek people may see that their money and sacrifices are not wasted.
Missile boat “RITSOS”, which is named after our heroic Lieutenant Commander (Navy) Nikolaos Ritsos, who sacrificed his life on November 12, 1912, for freedom, is today at sea and it is ready to bear our flag proudly while sailing across the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and wherever its duty summons.
I would like to wish the Commander, the First Officer, the Officers, NCOs and seamen of “RITSOS” missile boat to be always under Saint Nicholas’ protection, to sail at calm seas and defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as the Hellenic Navy has been doing since its creation.
Nice sails”.
Later on, the Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, attended the handover-takeover ceremony of the outgoing Chief of Fleet Vice Admiral Georgios Giakoumakis to Vice Admiral Konstantinos Karageorgis which was held at Salamis Naval Base.
