The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos attended, today, Tuesday 6 December 2022, the celebration of the Patron Saint of the Hellenic Navy Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas), which took place at the Hellenic Naval Academy in Piraeus.
The Government and the Prime Minister were represented by the Vice President Mr Panagiotis Pikramenos, the Hellenic Parliament was represented by the Speaker of the Parliament Mr Konstantinos Tasoulas and other attendants were the Minister of Migration and Asylum Mr Notis Mitarakis, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikos Hardalias, the Deputy Minister of Shipping & Island Policy, responsible for ships’ issues Mr Konstantinos Katsafados, an MP of the A Piraeus Constituency of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Mr Thodoris Dritsas and representatives of the parties.
Other attendants were the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Haralambos Lalousis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis, the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, the Mayor of Piraeus Mr Giannis Moralis and representatives of bodies and the Self-government.
After the conclusion of the celebration, the Minister of National Defence gifted to the Hellenic Naval Academy a piece of the first metal minted at the “Naval Group” Shipyards in Lorient – France, for the FDI frigates under construction, last January, with the signature of the Minister and the Minister of Defence of France, at the time, Ms Florence Parly.
In his brief address, Mr Panagiotopoulos noted:
“This gift here will remind and inspire the students of the Hellenic Naval Academy for what is to come, the new perspective of the Hellenic Navy. They will be lucky to graduate from the Hellenic Naval Academy and probably be called to staff these new assets required by the Hellenic Navy and which will increase by more additions, when new decisions are going to be made for the corvettes’ programme and beyond.
Many happy returns and may Agios Nikolaos, your Patron Saint, always stand at your bow.
