The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended today, Wednesday 18 December 2024, the ceremony for the laying of the foundations of the under construction building of the Cyberspace Directorate of HNDGS, at the “Field Marshal Papagou” Camp.

During the ceremony for the new building of the Special Cyberspace Unit, constructed through the donation of the “AC Laskaridis Charitable Foundation”, a consecration was conducted by the archpriest Colonel Nektarios Markakis and then the foundation plate was placed.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence Giannis Kefalogiannis, the MP of the Hellenic Parliament Sevasti Voloudaki, the Ambassador of the United States of America in Greece George Tsunis, the granter of the donation and founder of the “AC Laskaridis Charitable Foundation” Athanasios Laskaridis, the President of the “AC Laskaridis Charitable Foundation” Evi Lazou – Laskaridis, the President of the “Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation” honorary Rear Admiral Panagiotis Laskaridis and the Chief Executive Officer of ELEMKA S.A. Ioannis Mytilinaios attended the ceremony.

Other attendees from the military chain of command were the Chief of HNDGS General Dimitrios Choupis, 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 and other senior and general officers.

The Minister of National Defence mentioned the following in his address:

“It is obviously my great joy and honour to attend today the laying of the foundations for the new building of the Special Cyberspace Unit, which is constructed after a donation by the Foundation of Mr Athanasios Laskaridis, as per the most modern standards, in equipment and security.

It will constitute the HQ of the Unit “1864”, which along with the newly established Units of Electronic Intelligence (“Unit 1821”) and Space Applications (“Unit 1912”), aims to usher our Homeland in a new age. We will have new capabilities in the critical operational theatre of cyberwarfare and operation intelligence.

The aim is not solely the support of the Armed Forces of our Homeland, but of the overall wider Greek public sector, if you will, of the Greek society, from the threats of the times we are living in.

It is apparent that the war in Ukraine, the wider security situation, obligates Greece to re-examine the doctrines which are currently available and have been for decades.

A few days ago, after first having presented it to the Prime Minister Mr Mitsotakis, I presented to the Hellenic Parliament the New Structure of the Armed Forces for the next 12 years (2024 -2035), which constitutes the axis of our great reform, the “2030 Agenda”. The greatest, in the words of the Prime Minister, reform in the modern history of the Hellenic Armed Forces. In addition, I dare say, with full knowledge, that when the “2030 Agenda” is completed, Hellenism will be deploying the mightiest Armed Forces in its history.

Part of that reform is also the establishment and operation of the Unit which will be housed in the building whose foundations we are laying today.

I would also like to take the opportunity to showcase one more donation by Mr. Thanasis Laskaridis as an example. The modern benefactors have embraced the Hellenic Armed Forces, in continuation of a Hellenism’s ceaseless tradition rooted in the past, which, if we want to be sincere with ourselves, had started to falter in previous decades.

The donations towards the Ministry of National Defence for 2024 will exceed 26 million euros. To be able to make the comparison, I should tell you that the total amount of donations in the previous year was 234.000 euros. Already, we consider this increase a solid support to the Armed Forces. We hope that in 2025 we will exceed this limit.

I have already given the order for the establishment, in the General Finance Directorate, of a Special Sub-directorate responsible for donations’ management. Because, as you know, the Greek Public Sector is usually a difficult grantee. It makes things difficult even for the benefactor. The process through the Ministry of Finance and the Greek bureaucracy is often toilsome and tests the benefactor’s resolve.

However, on the other hand, we have a society backing the Armed Forces.

I would also like to underline the massive majority of 260 colleagues in the Hellenic Parliament, who voted for the defence expenditures to pass to the Budget, not as a vote of confidence for our Government, but as support for the effort of our Armed Forces, support for our country’s defence.

Mr Laskaridis,

The Homeland makes every possible effort, within a very tight financial framework, to modernise the Armed Forces. Furthermore, each donation which contributes to that direction, is more than welcome. I dare say that it constitutes an absolute necessity for us.

Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude, mine and of the leadership, but also of the Armed Forces overall, for this deed of national responsibility.

You mentioned the lack of money. Allow me to quote something from the Scriptures: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart”. It is your heart talking, not you pocket.

I warmly thank you”.