The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, yesterday, Monday 16 February 2026, attended the celebration commemorating the National Day of Serbia, held in a hotel in the capital.
The Day of Statehood (Sretenje) is celebrated annually on 15 February, in commemoration of the First Serbian Revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1804, as well as of the adoption of the first modern Serbian constitution in 1835, as a symbol of liberty and national independence.
The celebration was attended by the Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut, the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dačić, the Minister of Sports of Serbia Zoran Gajić, the Greek Minister of the Interior Theodoros Livanios, the Greek Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ioannis Kefalogiannis, the Greek Alternate Minister of Sports Ioannis Vroutsis, the Chief/HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, the Secretary General of the Serbian Government Petar Janjić, the member of the Serbian National Assembly Ljubica Vraneš, as well as the Ambassador of Serbia Nikola Nedeljković.
The celebrations were also attended by the Ambassador of the USA Kimberly Guilfoyle, the Ambassador of Israel Noam Katz, the Ambassador of Canada Sonya Thissen, representatives of foreign diplomatic delegations, general and senior officers of the Armed Forces, Defence Attachés of foreign states in Athens, businessmen, journalists, and foreign correspondents.
In his address, the Minister of National Defence stated the following:
“It is a great honour for me, dear Ambassador, to address you on the National Day of Serbia, an important symbol of the Serbian Odyssey toward statehood, liberty and national dignity.
As you were kind enough to mention before me, Serbia and Greece share historical, spiritual, and strategic ties, forged through trials, and rooted in cultural kinship based on a common Orthodox legacy.
Christianity in the Balkans, particularly the Orthodox Christian tradition, has been, throughout the years, a source of identity, as well as resilience. Both Greece and Serbia bear a common responsibility of safeguarding our Christian values, our communities, our legacy, while of course, at the same time respecting religious liberty and toleration of all religions.
The similarities in our traditional festivals and customs, reveal how profoundly intertwined our centuries-long interaction is, while we have co-habited this peninsula. To further this point, allow me, if you will, to share some personal testimony with you.
I had the honour – and the Ambassador was kind enough to mention – of visiting the familial residence of President Vučić twice in the last three years, on the occasion of the celebration of Saint Nicholas, the family’s patron saint.
I witnessed for myself an atmosphere which reflects a typical Greek family, as well as the deep religious devotion, the unbreakable familial bonds, the cordiality towards friends and well-wishers, as well as other traditions handed down through the generations.
I am also honoured to address you today for another reason. As the ambassador was kind enough to mention, my home island is Corfu. And Corfu has played a significant role and holds a place in every Serbian heart.
My law firm’s office in Corfu, allow me to say, is directly opposite the Serbian consulate. I remember the Serbian flag flying opposite my window in the last few decades. Therefore, I have been extremely familiar with Serbia and its people even before, long before, my political involvement.
As you all know, in World War I, Corfu sheltered Serbia’s heroic army, following its retreat through the Albanian mountains, and the Corfiots opened their homes to share food and solace with the Serbian soldiers.
This was immortalised in the famous ballad, “Tamo Daleko”, that epic march to salvation, a song so close to my heart, which I had the privilege to hear from my good friend, Minister Gašić, who is with us today, and believe me, he sings it in an exceptionally emotional way. I would be much obliged to him if we could finish this evening by listening to him singing “Tamo Daleko”.
Ladies and gentlemen, even military cemeteries, such as the one in Vido, are sacred bridges of our brotherhood, dear Ambassadors. And in World War II, again, together, we resisted fascism, affirming Liberty and affirming also our respect for the free world. Let us remember that.
Allow me to return to today’s challenges. As you mentioned, we live in a world of conflict.
With the implementation of the “Agenda 2030” and the establishment of the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation, Greece aims to further promote our defence cooperation. And during my recent trip to Belgrade, the discussions and the visits with my Serbian counterparts to numerous establishments of the Serbian Defence Forces gave me the opportunity to explore the potential for collaboration between our two defence ecosystems. And with my dear friend, the Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić, we are discussing this extensively.
As you also know, Greece supports Serbia’s European path and collaborates with Serbia in many sectors, such as Trade, Tourism, and Culture.
Thus, honouring Serbia’s achievements, Greece commits to deepening our strategic alliance, guided by international law, sovereignty, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
Allow me, ladies and gentlemen, to wish the Republic of Serbia enduring peace and prosperity. And may our friendship remain a pillar of harmony and stability in our difficult region.
I wish Serbia a Happy National Day!
Thank you very much”.
