The Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikos Dendias, representing the Greek Government, attended on Thursday 23 May 2024 the event in honour and memory of the hero Captain Konstantinos Iliakis, who lost his life in action 18 years ago. The event was jointly organized by the Hellenic Air Force General Staff and the Municipalities of Karpathos and Chania, while it was held near his Memorial in the port of Karpathos.
Mr. Dendias attended the memorial service, which was officiated by the Very Reverend Archpriest Eftychios Petrakis, representing the Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas. Then, he laid a wreath at the Captain Konstantinos Iliakis memorial.
The event was attended by the President of the SPARTANS party Vasileios Stigkas, the members of the Parliament Vasileios – Nikolaos Yspilantis – representing the Hellenic Parliament, Emmanouil Konsolas, Stavros Michailidis, the Mayor of Karpathos – Michalis Fellouzis, the Prefect of Karpathos – the Heroic Island of Kasos, Kalliopi Nikolaidou, representing the South Aegean Region, the Mayor of the Heroic Island of Kasos Michail Erotokritos, the Deputy Mayor of Chania Stylianos Michailakis, members of the family of the late Konstantinos Iliakis, members of the Security Forces, representatives from the Regional and Local Administration, representatives from the Retired Officers’ Association, the Air Force Veterans’ Association, the Families of the Fallen Association and other entities, as well as by lots of people.
In military terms, the event was attended by the Chief HAFGS Lieutenant General Dimosthenis Grigoriadis – representing also the Chief HNDGS, the Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Lieutenant General Panagiotis Georgakopoulos, the Commander of the 95 Higher National Guard Battalions Command “DIAGORIDON” Emmanouil Chatzis – representing the Chief HAGS and the Commander of the Rhodes Naval Station Commander Vasileios Selas – representing the Chief HNGS.
The Minister of National Defence in his address stated the following:
“It is a great honour for me to be here, in the remote island of Karpathos, attending the commemoration of and paying tribute to Captain Konstantinos Iliakis, who on the 23rd day of May of 2006 joined the Pantheon of Air Force heroes, in his effort to intercept aircrafts that violated the Greek airspace. In other words, defending our national sovereignty and our Country’s sovereign rights.
Thus, committed to abide by our Country’s Constitution, he affirmed the self-denial characterizing the members of our Armed Forces, who are always ready to defend Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you know it already; the mission of our fighter aircrafts requires professionalism, let alone bravery and selflessness. And unfortunately, sometimes even sacrifice.
This was confirmed by the death of Captain Kostantinos Iliakis.
I would like to pay tribute to all our pilots, who lost their lives in duty; our 167 pilots since 1974.
I have been morally committed to always refer by name to those who fell during my tenure in the Ministry of Defence.
To CAPTAIN PANAGIOTIS LASKARIS (2015);
To CAPTAIN ATHANASIOS ZAGKAS (2015);
To CAPTAIN CHRISTOS MOULAS (25/7/2023);
To SECOND LIEUTENANT PERIKLIS STEFANIDIS (25/7/2023); and
To MAJOR EPAMEINONDAS KOSTEAS (27/12/2023).
Those people, who – together with their colleagues – fought and sacrificed the greater good: their life.
They stand as an example for the younger generations of Hellenes. At a time of many challenges, the proper way to honour their memory is to continue the vision of shielding our Country, by establishing the foundations of the future of our Armed Forces and our Air Force.
The “Agenda 2030” marks the start of rendering this “future” absolutely visible to Greek citizens, and not only to them.
Therefore, the availability of the most state-of-the-art new generation aircrafts, such as F-16 Viper, Rafale and F-35, in 2030 is considered a priority for the Air Force, thus guiding the Air Force and our Country into a new age and the creation of a powerful deterrence air force. And dare I say, the most powerful deterrence force in the history of Greece.
That way we could prove that the sacrifice of our people, of our pilots, was not in vain. It was not meaningless. We have the moral obligation, ladies and gentlemen, to learn from Captain Konstantinos Iliakis; from the example of self-sacrifice for the Country.
We are honouring the loss. We promise you that both the Greek people and his wider family, apart from his close biological one, that is our Country’s Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Defence, keep him alive in their memory.