On Wednesday, 04 December 2024, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Giannis Kefalogiannis visited the headquarters of the Command of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus and was welcomed by its Commander Colonel (INF) Asterios Despoudis.
Mr Kefalogiannis was briefed on the organisation, the mission, its current operational activities and took a tour of the War Headquarters, the War Museum and the premises of the Camp.
Next, he went to the 2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus at the “ANDREA ZAKOU” Camp and took a tour of the premises and observed a fire demonstration by a Mechanised Infantry Group at the Fire Simulator.
The Deputy Minister thanked the members for the devotion, the sacrifice and ethos they display every day, assuring them that they have the absolute support of the Political and Military leadership of the Armed Forces. At the same time, he pointed out that the Hellenic Force in Cyprus is a symbol of the unbreakable bond between Greece and Cyprus, a bond based on the common origin, the common history and the common values and struggles, whereas he mentioned, once more, Greece’s devotion to the effort of finding a just and viable solution to the Cyprus Issue, a bizonal, bi-communal federation, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and compatible with the Acquis Communautaire.
Next, Mr Kefalogiannis participated in a working lunch with the Defence Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Vasilis Palmas.
In his address to the members and soldiers of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stated, among other things:
“It is a great honour to be here today, among you, the guardians of our Cyprus. At the same time, I feel extremely emotional stepping on this land of heroes, where the duty, the history and the honour of our country meet. Here, every inch of land reminds us of the sacrifices, the struggles and the blood that was shed for freedom, independence and the national dignity. The Hellenic Force in Cyprus, since its establishment until today, is a symbol of the unbreakable relation between Greece and Cyprus, a relation based on the common origin, the common history and the common values and struggles.
You, the members of the Hellenic Force in Cyprus are not only soldiers. You are carriers of a heavy historical debt. You guard Thermopylae in a place shed with the blood of our ancestors and you continue the tradition of the heroic contribution started many decades ago. The sacrifice of your comrades in 1974 is for all of us a guide and a source of inspiration. Your mission is not easy. You serve the country with a sense of responsibility, discipline and professionalism, under conditions that require readiness, composure and determination. Greece is proud of you. Your service here is the ultimate example of commitment that we have as a Nation: to safeguard security, sovereignty and the rights of Hellenism. Your role, though, is not only defensive. You are the vivid proof of the unity and solidarity that connects Greece with Cyprus. You are the ambassadors of Greece in Cyprus, reinforcing, through your daily activities, the relations of the two peoples.
As Deputy Minister of National Defence, I am here to convey the absolute support of the Political and Military leadership of our country. We are by your side, we acknowledge your work and we are committed to provide you with whatever necessary to execute your mission with safety and success. Greece remains devoted to the defence of the rights of the Republic of Cyprus and the effort to find a just and viable solution, a bizonal bi-communal federation, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and compatible with the Acquis Communautaire.
Dear Officers, NCOs and Soldiers,
Your contribution is priceless. You are the real proof that Hellenism is united, determined and capable of rising to the occasion. Your families, that are far away, are also proud of you and support you in every step.
On behalf of the State, I thank you for the devotion, the sacrifice and ethos you display every day. I invite you to continue your work with the same determination, honouring tradition and your duty. I wish health, strength and success in every effort you make. May the protection of Virgin Mary and the consideration of all of us from Greece accompany you in every step you take”.