The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, visited today, on Saturday 12 February 2022, borderline islands and islets of the North and South Aegean Regions, in the context of a 4-day visiting programme to Formations, Units and Outposts of the Armed Forces in central, north and south Aegean Sea.

Mr. Hardalias began today’s visits from Samos. He visited the HQ of the  79th National Guard Higher Command and the Outpost “PSILI AMMOS”, where he was
briefed on their mission, main projects and current activities. Moreover, during his stay on the island, he met with the Deputy Regional Governor of Samos Mr.
Vassilios Panourakis, the Mayor of West Samos Mr. Alexandros Lymperis and the Deputy Mayor od East Samos Mr. Vasilios Valkamlis.

Agathonissi, Farmakonissi and Kalolimnos were his next stops, where he visited the outposts “AGATHONISSI”, “FARMAKONISSI” and “AGHIOS NIKOLAOS” respectively. During his visits, he was briefed on their mission, he inspected their installations-infrastructure and discussed with the personnel.

An intermediate stop for Mr. Hardalias was Arkioi, where he met with the enlisted physician who is appointed to cover the needs of the regional clinic of the
borderline island. He also met with the Deputy Mayor of Patmos Mr. Eleftherios Kokkonis and with inhabitants of the village.

Afterwards, the Deputy Minister of National Defence went to Kalymnos island, where he visited the HQ of the 5/42 Evzone Regiment and was briefed on its history, mission and current operational-training activities.

After that, he went to the Monument of the three Hellenic Navy Officers Fallen in the line of duty at Imia and laid a wreath, honouring the memory of the Heroes. The signature ceremony was also honoured by the presence of his Eminence the Metropolitan of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalaia Mr. Paisios, the Deputy Regional Governor of the Dodecanese Mr. Christos Efstratiou, the Mayor of Kalymnos Mr. Dimitrios Diakomichalis, the Provincial Governor of Kalymnos Region Mr. Emmanouil Mousselis, the Commander of the 80th National Guard Higher Command Brigadier General Triantafyllos Theodossios, and the Commanders of the Security Corps’ Services of Kalymnos, with whom he had met earlier.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence, from the Monument of the Fallen Heroes on Kalymnos, stated the following:

“Our national sovereignty is non-negotiable. This is a message extended to everyone. Their sacrifice is our challenge for responsibility, devotion, duty, our own
guide for national pride. The are immortal“.

On Pserimos, the last stop of today’s visits, Mr. Hardalias met with the enlisted physicians who are appointed to cover the needs of the regional clinic. In addition,
he visited the island’s Outpost.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands Lieutenant General Nikolaos Flaris.