The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HAGS Lt General Vasilios Tellidis, visited Veria where he awarded the commendation of the Star of Merit and Honour to the Infantry Soldier Ioannis Kozartsis, the sole survivor up until now of the four heroes who defended the machine-gun nest P8 of Mount Beles and fellow warrior of Infantry reserve sergeant Dimitris Itsios.

Then the Ministry of National Defence went to Thessaloniki, where he inaugurated eight Officers Quarters apartments at the DALIPIS Camp. Afterwards he visited the KYROUDIS Camp of the Special Forces in Nea Santa – Rodopi and then went to Didymoticho, where he inaugurated 13 Professional Soldiers Quarters apartments at the CHATZOPOULOS – DOITSIDIS Camp and visited the National Outpost 126 at Soufli.
 
The Minister of National Defence while addressing the attendants at the inauguration ceremony of the eight Officers Quarters apartments in Thessaloniki, among others said the following:

“I was particularly pleased to hear His Eminence mentioning the strong bonds between the Church and the Armed Forces. I would like to assure Your Eminence, that since the Armed Forces are protected by the Champion Leader, Saint George, Saint Barbara, Saint Nikolaos, Prophet Ilias – who will be the official patron saint of Army Aviation from now on –the bonds between the Armed Forces and the Church are unbreakable.

I would also like to assure you that society’s bonds with the Armed Forces, as you said, are also unbreakable. Orthodoxy, Hellenism, the Armed Forces and the Church will go on side by side since no one can break those bonds.
 

In this context I would like to thank you for your blessing and for the Church’s support to the Armed Forces, from the commonest of priests on far away islands, coming to our outposts to bless our soldiers, to the Hierarchs and our Archbishop, who always stand by our side.

I am very happy to be here in Thessaloniki, the capital of the one and true Macedonia, on the occasion of the inauguration of the eight Officers Quarters apartments at the DALIPIS Camp. This inauguration constitutes one more initiative of contribution by the Ministry of National Defence to the families of the personnel of the Armed Forces.
 
It was a challenge undertaken by us and the military leadership and with particular pleasure I can now announce standing here in Thessaloniki, that since the beginning of this year up until today we have reached 99 houses. I was previously assured by the General that we will exceed 100. I hope that next year with all the efforts made by the Engineer Corps, the Officers, NCOs and Conscripts, but also the state we will exceed 200 houses.

Our goal is to have covered over 80 % of the Officers’ and NCOs’ needs throughout Greece until the end of our term. We strive for this because the financial conditions and crisis have put the cadres of the Armed Forces under a lot of strain in the recent years, whether they are active or retired. With regards to the active cadres we strive for the best and at least we achieved during these last two years to avoid even a minimum of pay cuts for the Armed Forces cadres and on the contrary to give the due benefits for service in the frontiers and also pay some benefits for Christmas, which will cover some of their needs.

However our most basic commitment and goal is the enforcement of the decision by the Council of State.

Our sensitivity in personnel issues is a given and our care for the personnel constitutes a central component of our policy. We have applied a policy aiming to the final solution of the lingering problems of the Armed Forces cadres.

Towards that direction we work on a certain schedule, solemnly and patiently, so that our morale will remain high and the status of our cadres will be preserved to the highest possible level and this effort has been successful.

I am proud of the Hellenic Armed Forces. I am proud of their high morale and professionalism. I am proud because the Hellenic Armed Forces are ready to repel any threat to our national sovereignty and fight for faith and country.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Hellenic Army General Staff, the Commander of C’ Army Corps, but also the Commanders throughout the Chain of Command and the Commander of the 1st Army, for their contribution to the function of the Officers Quarters.

I would also like to thank the local bodies because they demonstrate with deeds their love for the personnel of the Armed Forces. We are convinced about the successful completion of the housing programme we commenced in 2015, when I took office in the Ministry of National Defence and I want to assure you that we will be present in every action protecting the cohesion of the family, facing problems because of the military personnel transfers.

Aside from the things mentioned by the Brigadier General about the Engineer Corps, for the projects in development, I would like to say that for the Pavlos Melas Camp we have set as a prerequisite for the bestowal of the location, the building of houses as part of the townscape for the cadres of the Armed Forces. As soon as this is accepted by the local society and the local administration, we can begin immediately. In Thessaloniki, we have covered a very high percentage of Officers and NCOs. We are doing the same in Evros, the Aegean islands and Attica, in order to cover all the needs of the personnel.

Finally I would like to wish to everyone health, strength, personal and familial happiness for the holidays ahead. I wish that Jesus Christ will bring hope in our country. I am sure that 2017 will be a much better year from the previous ones.

Greece is leaving the financial crisis behind after being driven to it by the world economic war. In the near future we will welcome the victims of this crisis back. Meaning the young people who could not remain in our country because of the crisis. We will stop biding farewell to the young generation going abroad.

This will result in people smiling again and at the same time in strengthening our Armed Forces even more, because thanks to them, Greece, having acquired a great geostrategic power, constitutes a necessary factor for the international community, in the wider region of the Mediterranean. We manage this thanks to powerful Armed Forces, to all of you, because the greatest weapon, the greatest armament of the Armed Forces is their personnel.

Thank you and I wish you a Merry Christmas”.

The Minister of National Defence made the following statement from the National Outpost 126:
 
“We came here to wish you the Officers, the NCOs and the conscripts, the men and women of the Armed Forces, a Merry Christmas. We would like to thank you for your excellent work, your high morale and professionalism.
 
I would particularly like to thank the local people of Evros, because they have embraced the Armed Forces. The love they demonstrate to the Armed Forces and the care they show, particularly towards the conscripts, is moving. This is the power of the nation. The love between society and the Armed Forces.
 
As a politician and senior executive of the Minister of National Defence I want to sincerely thank the men and women of Evros. I wish a Merry Christmas to the whole personnel of the Armed Forces. A new year better for all of us and for our country is on the way.
 
Thank you. I Wish You All the Best for the Festive Period”.