On Friday 6 December 2024, the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, attended the formal celebrations of the Patron Saint of the Hellenic Navy, St. Nicolas, and the anniversary of the victorious Naval Battles of the Balkan Wars (1912-13) in the Hellenic Navy Academy, as representative of the President of the Government.
The event was attended by the Representative of the Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, New Democracy MP for A’ Piraeus Constituency, Domna Mihailidou, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, Giannis Kefalogiannis, the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Stefanos Gikas, New Democracy MPs for A’ Piraeus Kostas Katsafados and Nikos Vlahakos, SYRIZA-PS MP for Thessaloniki Katerina Notopoulou, the president of the “Spartiates” Party Vasilis Stigas, and the independent MP, Admiral (ret.) Evangelos Apostolakis.
On behalf of military leadership the event was attended by the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Dimitrios Houpis, the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Dimitrios – Eleftherios Kataras HN, and the Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (HAF) Dimosthenis Grigoriadis.
Additionally, it was attended by the Chief of Hellenic Coast Guad, Vice Admiral Georgios Alexandrakis, the Mayor of Vari – Voula – Vouliagmeni Grigoris Konstandellos, representatives of the Chiefs of the Security Forces, Honorary Chiefs of Hellenic National Defence and Navy General Staffs, the members of the Supreme Navy Council, active duty and retired Officers of the Armed Forces, members of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association, as well as representatives of the American Hellenic Institute, the Municipality of Piraeus, Regional and Local Governments. It was also attended by representatives of local authorities and institutions.
The Minister of National Defence pointed out the following during his address:
“Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, Seamen, and civilian personnel of our Navy,
Today, we are celebrating the memory of St. Nicolas, the Patron Saint of all sailors, our enormous merchant marine fleet, which is the biggest on the planet, and of our Navy.
We are also honouring the anniversary of our victorious naval battles during the Balkan Wars. The Naval Battles of Elli and Limnos. Those battles established Greek sovereignty in the Archipelago.
I know very well that the Hellenic Navy remains a continuator of those traditions, namely the Greek sovereignty in the Aegean Sea. And it still guarantees the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of Hellenism at sea.
Women and men of the Hellenic Navy – The Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff made a detailed mention to the following – the “Agenda 2030” is not an armaments procurement programme. It is the establishment of a completely different point of view. A point of view that gazes at the future, recognising the enormous changes that have already happened.
I would like to tell you, that despite a series of ship constructions, flights, and modernisations, of all those that were already mentioned; in order for Greece to protect its sovereignty and sovereign rights, it will proceed within the “Agenda 2030” framework, in the creation of a protective missile wall in the Aegean. A wall, which will be flexible in our islands, which will in fact turn into powerhouses, and will be able to bring to a halt and deter any potential thought or attempt to alter the situation in the Aegean, which has been created and established by international treaties, International Law, as well as International Maritime Law.
The “Agenda 2030” includes a modern system for facing challenges and, of course, a modern and powerful Navy. Allow me to say that it will be the most modern and powerful in the History of our Country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The sea is the natural space of Hellenism and of Greeks.
At this point I would like to express my deepest sadness for the recent loss of Petty Officer Alexandros Ketikoglou, who fell while on duty, during training.
I would like to wish that St. Nicolas gives his family courage and strength.
Personnel of the Hellenic Navy,
The State and society understands the importance of your mission. As you know, special compensation for the crews of Battleships and for crews that participate in special missions have already been put into place.
I want to be honest, however. That is not enough. I understand, and I want you to know, that what the Country gives in return to those who protect it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, must be reviewed. And I will do the best I can for that.
You are the Greece of honour, pride, and dignity. The Greece that is an example to others.
Closing my speech, I would like to express my best wishes to the women and men of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the ever-sailing Hellenic Merchant Fleet.
I hope that St. Nicolas protects all those sailing at sea, as well as their families who are far away and wait for them.
Many happy returns!
Long live the Hellenic Navy!
Long Live Greece!”.