The Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, along with the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos and the HNDGS/Chief General Konstantinos Floros inaugurated today, Saturday 11 September 2021, the Pavilion of the Ministry of National Defence at the 85th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Panagiotis Pikrammenos, the Minister for Climate Change and Civil Protection Mr. Christos Stylianidis, the Deputy Minister for Civil Protection Mr. Evangelos Tournas, the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Mr. Antonios Oikonomou, the HAFGS/Chief Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis (HAF), the HAGS/Chief Lieutenant General Charalambos Lalousis and the HNGS/Deputy Chief Georgios Kambourakis (HN).
The inauguration was also attended by representatives from organizations and chambers, officials and Church representatives, representatives from foreign diplomatic delegations and Defence Attachés from Allied countries and partners.
A tour followed at the Pavilion and all parties were informed on the exhibits and the rare audio-visual material presented.
The Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, in his address, mentioned the following:
“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,
First, allow me to make a comment on the 9/11 anniversary, seeing my good friend, Rhode Island State Senator Mr. Leonidas Raptakis,, and say we should not forget the Greeks living abroad, who were among the victims of that terrible disaster, that changed the world for ever, and may be , it defined the role of the Armed Forces differently during the “Post 9/11 era”.
It is with great pleasure that we are inaugurating today the Armed Forces Pavilion at the 85th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, after one year of absence due to the pandemic. The exhibition reopens with us present, keeping of course all medical protocols. This is inevitable.
This year’s event has a double symbolism: On one hand, Greece is the honored country, having as central theme the past, the present and the future of the country. On the other hand, this year, the celebration of the 200 year anniversary from the 1821 Revolution keeps going. If you notice the Pavilion of the Ministry of National Defence, which is differently designed and structured than before, it gives emphasis exactly to the 1821 National Struggle for Liberation. You will realize that when you take the first step in the interior.
The Armed Forces are actively “present” for fifth consecutive year, conveying the main message “Armed Forces: Past-present-future”. With our presence here, extroversion is reinforced and through the extensive-more than ever- audio-visual material projected, the glorious history of the Armed Forces is accurately imprinted, as well as their multi-leveled work and continuous contribution, when and where required.
The Armed Forces Pavilion has been established as one of the most famous, if not the most famous one, of the exhibition. This year, our approach, as I said, is much more discreet than before, but I think this is just an adjustment to what times require.
I urge all visitors of the exhibition to tour the interior, to get to know the members closely and exchange views with them and to be informed on the total contribution of the Armed Forces to the Country and Society.
The Armed Forces have always displayed (and I think they have proved it and still do every day) absolute professionalism, faith in the mission, a sense of duty, robustness, determination and the ability to cope with the most difficult mission and mainly defend the Country. They make Greek women and men feel safe and they confront every small or big, complex Security threat against our Country and the wider region.
This is the mission of the Armed Forces and they fulfill it in full. Allow me to stand proud at this time, at this difficult coincidence, of being a part of the Political Leadership of the Ministry of National Defence. But, taking this opportunity, I would also like to say that nothing would be possible, if the Political Leadership did not have an excellent and smooth cooperation with the Military Leadership. For this, I would like to thank the military leadership of the Armed Forces, HNDGS/Chief, the Chiefs of the General Staffs, for their valuable contribution. It is always better to work knowing that it is a group work; the outcome speaks for itself and fellow-workers support each other through easy situations, but mainly through hard ones.
I wish the organizers and participants of this year’s exhibition success. I am certain that the outcome will be positive for everyone and I really wish this year’s Thessaloniki International Trade Fair be the start of our country’s return to normality, because challenges are still plenty. We have not come out of the tunnel regarding defeating the pandemic. We must think about it very seriously, each one of us independently and all of us collectively. However, indications following this summer are satisfactory and with this feeling of optimism we will go on and you can be sure that we will manage.
All success and congratulations to the organizers.
Thank you”.
