The Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended today, Wednesday 28 October 2026, the parade of military and civilian detachments in Thessaloniki, for the National Anniversary of 28 October 1940, before H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas and the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
After the conclusion of the parade, the Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“Good day and many happy returns to all.
I think that today, we honoured the anniversary of 28 October here, in Thessaloniki, in the best possible way.
I am certain that Thessaloniki locals, but also all other Greeks, through their TVs, witnessed the great distance covered by our Homeland’s Armed Forces in the framework of “Agenda 2030”.
But of course, we have no choice but to remain vigilant, because technology is clearly and rapidly developing and we will have to keep up.
I would also like to remark on today’s presence of US detachments, as well as detachments from the National Guard of Cyprus and thank the attending Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas, for this presence.
Finally, I would like to say that the rapid evolution of the Armed Forces in the framework of “Agenda 2030” is a prerequisite for national survival.
Long live the 28th October, long live Thessaloniki, long live Greece!”
The representative of the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Dimitris Kouvelas, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Mr Ieronymos B΄, the President of PASOK-Movement for Change Nikos Androulakis, the President of NIKI Dimitris Natsios, the Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Vasilis Palmas, the EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas observed the parade from the VIP stand.
Other attendees were the Deputy Ministers of Interior (responsible for issues of Macedonia – Thrace) Kostas Gkioulekas, of Labour and Social Security Anna Efthymiou, of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs Elena Rapti, the representative of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance Christos Giannoulis, the representative of the Greek Solution and member of the European Parliament Emmanouil Fragkos, the representative of the Course of Freedom Alexandros Kazamias and various MPs.
The Chief of HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the HMoND Secretary General Antonios Oikonomou, the Secretary of the Decentralised Administration of Macedonia and Thrace Dimitris Galamatis, the Head of the Central Macedonia Region Athina Aidona, the Mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis, His Eminence the Metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki Mr Filotheos, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Dimitrios-Eleftherios Kataras HN, the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General (Pilot) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis, the leadership of the Safety Services, the Deputy Head of the Thessaloniki Region Konstantinos Gioutikas, representatives of foreign diplomatic delegations, Local Government, Bodies, Associations and thousands of citizens also attended.
Early in the morning, Mr Dendias had a private meeting with the Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Vasilios Palmas, at the Officers Club of the Thessaloniki Garrison. Other individuals present at the meeting were the HMoND Secretary General Antonios Oikonomou and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Greece Stavros Avgoustidis. The Ministers, among other things, discussed the defence cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, as well as the latest international developments pertaining to the two states’ security issues.
Before the parade, the Minister of National Defence went to the War Memorial of the Supreme Military Command of Epirus and Macedonia, where a memorial service and wreath laying took place by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas.
