Today, at the Ministry of National Defence, the celebration for New Year’s Eve took place, during which the choirs of the Armour Corps Training Centre, the Railway Workers Group, the Kastelorizian Association and the Scouts of Greece sang the New Year’s Carols for the Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos.
The celebration was also attended by the Alternate Minister of National defence Fofi Gennimata, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanassis Davakis, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Athanassios Tselios, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis and the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General (AF) Evangelos Tournas.
After the completion of the celebration, a joint band from all three branches of the Armed Forces stroke up the carols for the political and military leadership.
Mr. Avramopoulos, during his address, pointed out among other things:
“Our country’s Armed Forces are a place where the principles and the values that defined our Nation’s course through the centuries still prevail and withstand. They never stroke the flag of dignity and national pride.
The circumstances are really difficult. It is relatively important to wonder how and why we got here. What we will do from now on is what is important.
However, in order to move forward, we should re-discover our good self, remove all imperfect factors we were left with from our past. Remake the state, rally the constitutions and cultivate among us relations of solidarity, union of hearts and national understanding, the key prerequisites so as to go forward vigorously and optimistically, responding to the legacy of all those who preceded us, but also to the demands of the younger generations.
Here, in this place, Greece of duty, honour and values still resists.
I wish to all personnel in the Armed Forces, their leadership and all the cadres and soldiers, men and women, for this year to be a year characterised by exaltation, creativity and, above all, peace. We will all make sure of that.
Yet, our defence system will be at readiness, so as to be able to respond to the demands of our times, as well as to the role it has been assigned by the Greek people, our Nation, and international law.
Our national defence system is in capable hands, with proficient and proud personnel that perform their duty with dignity, responsibility and, above all, decisiveness.
This is the message we extend today, on New Year’s Eve, towards Greek society. Greek citizens may feel safe.
The Armed Forces watch, they are at constant readiness, they are fully aware of their national mission and comprehend their public and national duty.
Many happy returns, health, inspiration, vigour, creativity and endurance, considering the difficulties still ongoing.
But also a message of optimism, as Greece gradually goes back to the path of growth and progress.
Have no doubts that the year to come will be much better. We shall leave behind all what displeased, distressed and troubled us, and a new, optimistic period for our Nation and our people will begin”.