On Thursday 16 May 2024, a general meeting on the management of natural disasters during the current fire fighting period was held in Alexandroupolis, under the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, in the presence of the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias.
The meeting was attended by the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Christodoulos Topsidis, the Mayor of Alexandroupolis Giannis Zamboukis, the Mayor of Soufli Panagiotis Kalakikos, the Forester of Evros Petros Anthopoulos and delegates from other local authorities.
On behalf of the Armed Forces and Security Forces, the meeting was attended by the Chief of the Fire Service Lieutenant General FS Theodoros Vagias, the Commander of D Army Corps –“THRACE” Lieutenant General Stavros Papastathopoulos, the Commander of the Special Warfare Command Lieutenant General Prokopios Mavraganis, the Commander of Constructions and Management of Natural Disasters Command Lieutenant General Mihail Klouvas, the Inspector General of the Fire Service of Northern Greece Lieutenant General FS Evangelos Falaras, the General Regional Superintendent of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Ioannis Karamanlis.
Upon conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Dendias stated:
“I begin by thanking the Minister, my friend Vassilis Kikilias for his nice words. It was due to his initiative that we are here today.
We have discussed with all involved agencies that the Armed Forces will be able to assist in the protection of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace from the fires.
Maybe, Vassilis, this outstanding effort can be transferred to other areas of Greece, although the geopolitical importance and gravity of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace I think is of utmost importance for us.
I have said that the constitutional duty of the Armed Forces of our country is to stand by the Greek society, where there is a need for their intervention; in this case, to support both the Fire and Forest Services fighting the fires.
In the context of the “Agenda 2030” for the big reform of our country’s Armed Forces, we established the Constructions and Management of Natural Disasters Command, under a Lieutenant General, who was here today, Mr. Klouvas, so that we can have an operational arm to provide this assistance.
With the assets that we will be supplied from Project “Aigis”, which we hope that will be delivered by next year, in 2025, I believe that the capabilities of the Armed Forces standing by the society will be multiplied.
We are ready, of course under the directions and the initiative of the Fire Service, to help wherever we can. The Armed Forces are ready to help wherever they can, and with the total coordination and effort I hope, mister Minister, that we will have a very good season this year compared to the previous years.
I would like, on behalf of the Armed Forces, to thank the Local Self-Administration, the Regional Governor Mr. Topsidis, the Mayors, the Mayor of Alexandroupolis, the Mayor of Soufli, for the support that they always provide to the Hellenic Army and the Armed Forces of our country.
Thank you Mr. Minister for the opportunity to be here today. I really thank you”.
For his part, Mr. Kikilias stated:
“For the Hellenic State, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is not a remote area but, in my opinion, the first priority. In this logic, since an issue of domestic security arises, first from the climate crisis and forest fires, and second from anything else that may arise – there are illegal refugees flows and many challenges – geostrategically our country, as well as NATO and Europe, have invested in this area. An upgrade of our operational capabilities is required.
In the person of the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikos Dendias, a good friend of mine, I would like to thank the Armed Forces for the effort made this year to operationally upgrade our capabilities. Of course, I would also like to thank the Hellenic Police, the Border Guard, the Regional Governor, the Mayors, the two other ranks of Local Self-Administration, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, the Independent Power Transmission Operator, our volunteers, and all the people who will give the fight this year.
Yet, special thanks to the Armed Forces in particular. Because along with the Fire Service, we planned another framework for fighting forest fires. The situation will not be easy. I have explained that we will have a very difficult fire fighting period. But the Minister now introduced a more vertically integrated structure in the Armed Forces, which will help us and support our effort.
There are many camps in the area, and the Ministry has greatly invested here; we must find a way to be quick and effective in any fire that may occur. There is a new doctrine now in the Fire Service: take off of the airborne vehicles and strike with the use of land forces. Here we had an example of excellent work and cooperation. Who told you that there cannot be cooperation between the Fire Service and the Civil Protection with the Hellenic Police, the Port Police and mainly the Armed Forces? Once again thank you Mr. Minister. Thank you very much”.