The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, attended today, Wednesday 21 May 2025, the celebration of the Kastellorizo Patron Saints Konstantinos and Eleni.

The Minister of National Defence attended the Solemn Divine Liturgy at the Holy Metropolitan Church of Saint Konstantinos and Saint Eleni of Kastellorizo, officiated by His Eminence the Metropolitan Bishop of Symi, Tilos, Chalki and Kastellorizo Mr Chrysostomos. Right after that, he participated in the procession of the holy icon.

Other attendants to the celebration were the MPs Ioannis Pappas, Emmanouil Konsolas, Tsambika (Mika) Iatridi, the Alternate Head of the Southern Aegean Region Apostolis Asprakis, the Commanding General of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou, the Commanding General of the 95 Higher National Guard Battalions Command Major General Spyros Kogiannis, the Mayor of the Kastellorizo – Megisti Municipality Nikolaos Asvestis, the Commander of the Island Defence Force of Megisti Colonel (INF) Michail Tsirkinidis. Representatives of the Security Forces, local authorities and associations also attended.

Following that, Mr Dendias visited the HQ of the Megisti Island Defence Force, where he was given a tour of its facilities.

Afterwards, the Minister of National Defence went to Ro, where he laid a wreath on the memorial site of the “Lady of Ro”, Despina Achladiotou, and attended the inauguration and the consecration of the newly built Military Surveillance Outpost.

In his address after the end of the inauguration, Mr Dendias stated:

“Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great honour and pleasure to be here today, on the occasion of the celebration of the Saints Konstantinos and Eleni, on Ro, for the third time. This time, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Surveillance Outpost, which constitutes a donation by the Hellenic Parliament, as the original body which expresses the people’s volition. For that, I would like to thank the previous Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr Kostas Tasoulas, for this donation, which was conducted during his term as Speaker.

I do not need to explain – I think that it is well known – that the geopolitical importance of this islet is immense, as well as that of the complex of Megisti, of Kastellorizo.

In addition, of course, Despina Achladiotou, a frontiers woman here on Ro, was raising with sentimentality the Greek flag, every day for 34 years, up until the day of her death.

Today’s ceremony constitutes the continuation of a series of Surveillance Outpost inaugurations, with the last being the “SAINT FANOURIOS” Outpost on Symi. They constitute parts of the effort to modernise the Armed Forces of our Homeland and the living conditions of our personnel, meaning the “Agenda 2030”.

Because I have repeatedly stated that the personnel is the greatest force multiplier of the Armed Forces.

Returning to the geographical location we currently stand, I do not need to remind you that the Megisti complex is part of the Dodecanese. It is a point of reference for the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of our Homeland, for our Exclusive Economic Zone (EOZ).

Any regard of the Dodecanese or the Megisti complex as remote areas, constitutes, in my opinion, an approach out of touch with the reality of International Law, out of touch with the reality of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Moreover, this is an opportunity to remind for the umpteenth time that the Convention on the Law of the Sea constitutes part of the European acquis. Meaning that it constitutes a part of the overall principles that govern the European Union.

And I have repeatedly also said that if neighbouring Turkiye, throughout its course towards the future, I hope a course of convergence towards Europe and not one of deviation, opts to sign the Convention on the Law of the Sea, then 95%, not to mention 100%, of its dispute with Greece will have been resolved.

Either way, we Greeks, in times of geopolitical changes and disputes, will always do what is dictated by duty and the Constitution. We will shield the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of our Homeland. In addition, the body shielding these rights have always been and will continue to forever be the Hellenic Armed Forces.

The Hellenic Armed Forces are the reliable body of force but also the body which maintains an unbreakable bond with the Greek society.

Thank you very much”.