The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Hardalias attended today, Thursday 16 February 2023, the inauguration of the fully renovated facilities of the Surveillance Outpost “PANAGIA”, on the border islet of the same name, at the Oinousses complex.

The overhaul of the older facilities to newer, modern infrastructures, was materialised thanks to a donation by the ship-owner Mr Vasilios Pateras to the Armed Forces, who covered the whole funding of the sum of the works required for the project. At our border outpost, the upgrade of the quality of life and of the living conditions of its Garrison, will have a positive impact on the dedication and the prerequisites for the continuation of the successful execution of their significant mission, in that sensitive border area.

The following individuals also attended the ceremony: the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Dr Domna Mihailidou, the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros and the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Angelos Houdeloudis, His Eminence the Metropolitan of Chios, Psara and Oinousses Mr Markos, the Mayor of Oinousses Mr Georgios Daniil and the Mayor of Psara Mr Konstantinos Vratsanos, the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Sotirios Kostakoglou, the Commander of the 96 Higher National Guard Battalions Command Brigadier General Emmanouil Chatzis and others.

The ceremony was honoured by the presence of the benefactor Mr Vasilios Pateras, the President of the “Aikaterini Laskaridis” Foundation Rear Admiral (retired) Mr Panagiotis Laskaridis and the President of the “Athina I. Martinou” Foundation Ms Ioanna Martinou.

The Chief of HNDGS and the benefactor made addresses in the context of the ceremony, while the Deputy Minister of National Defence mentioned the following in his speech:

“I am particularly glad and honoured to be here today in the Area of Responsibility of the 96 Higher National Guard Battalions Command “CHIOS” and the “PANAGIA” border Surveillance Outpost of the Oinousses complex, in a succinct but so rich, believe me, in emotions and symbolisms, inauguration ceremony of its fully renovated facilities.

The new, modern infrastructures, in combination with the completion of the significant electric power supply project which made the connection to the HEDNO (Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator) network possible, through a submarine cable, essentially upgrade the quality of life of our Armed Forces members and soldiers, providing them with satisfactory living conditions in their challenging everyday lives and also enhancing the operational capabilities of the Outpost.

Our islet, our “PANAGIA” (Virgin Mary), constituting one more bastion to the ends of the Greek Territory, is constantly at the epicentre of the Turkish overflights over indisputably Greek soil, since the Turkish pilots choose it regularly to execute provocative flights with their fighter aircraft.

These overflights, as well as the constant violations of our national airspace, as we all know, constitute a direct dispute of our national sovereignty and one more effort to impose the unfounded Turkish positions, based on the nebulous grey zones theory and the demilitarisation of the Greek islands.

These persistently intensified provocations, which dispute the limits of International Law and the applicability of Treaties, obligate us to face them with a heightened sense of responsibility, with composure, self-control, decisiveness, raising as the frontispiece of our actions, the securing of our national interests, with deterrence constituting the focus of our whole defence planning.

In that sense, we strive daily in every possible way, to shield our country against any entity harbouring evil intentions, constantly enhancing the battle-worthiness of the Armed Forces, so that they can constitute the indisputable protector of the territorial integrity and the national independence of our Homeland.

Thus, we are utilising every available capability for the enhancement of our national deterrent force, making the country a basic pillar of security and stability in the wider region of the Balkans and the Southeastern Mediterranean, extending, however, our friendship to all our neighbours. In this spirit, and despite any disputes, we stand by the afflicted, after the recent destructive earthquakes, people of Turkey and we wish them strength and rapid recovery of the injured. I would also like to say from this location, from “PANAGIA”, to underline, to stress, here, opposite the Turkish coast, that our country is fully committed to its effort to assist and stand by the people and the society of Turkey in these hard times.

Concluding this brief address, I would like to express, from my heart, my immense gratitude on behalf of the Armed Forces, on behalf of the political leadership, our Minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, to Vasilios Pateras, to whose generous contribution, we were able to fully fund the renovation of this Outpost’s infrastructures.

Dear Vasilis, I would like to personally tell you a great “thank you” for your donation and exalt your ethos, profound social empathy and the particular grandeur of soul that characterises you, virtues that effortlessly reflect in your rich social contribution, throughout your life.

I wish that your selfless and patriotic deed will constitute another starting point and motivation for all those who can afford it, but most of all have the will and desire, to practically support the Armed Forces and through them the Homeland, and we know that they are many, although certain individuals who are here today, such as dear Admiral Laskaridis and dear Ioanna, like yourself, stand out because you are always present, by our side, in every endeavour, for the benefit of the Homeland, for the benefit of the Armed Forces. Moreover, our gratitude to all of you is great and I wish to assure you, with all the power of my voice and my soul, in every faraway corner of our land, that the Armed Forces will always be mightily present, attesting to our sovereignty and indisputable sovereign rights against any threat.

Because every island, every islet, every rock will be the Greek Homeland for us, a Greek flag! We are resilient, we are everywhere! For the Greek people! For our Homeland! For our flag!”

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Dr Domna Michailidou made the following statement:

“Truly moved, we conducted the inaugural ceremony of the new border outpost on Panagia. Here, where the Greek flag flies proud, next to people who serve our Homeland. A great “thank you” to the sentinels of our borders who daily safeguard the national integrity and our sovereign rights. Also, a great “thank you” to Vasilis Pateras for his significant contribution and the example he gives to all of us, regarding self-less love towards the Homeland”.