D. AVRAMOPOULOS: «Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, thank you for your welcome. On my turn, escaping a little from the official character this day has, I would first of all like to address the members of the great air force family, the current and the past leaderships. I see among you former Chiefs, Generals and the leadership of the Armed Forces.
I would like to say that all this time that I have been among you, during this and my previous service, I share with you all these supreme and noble feelings that make me feel, above all, proud as the one having the responsibility for the Armed Forces of the country, but also as citizen.
You must have heard me many times repeating that here, in this area, there truly exists –manifesting itself in the most indisputable way– another Greece; Greece of values, honour and duty.
The Armed Forces, this prevailing institution of the Hellenic State, based on a very important part of Hellenic society, was and historically is the most powerful guarantee for our national security, integrity and independence of the country. It is a power that guarantees the necessary accord and unity we need as people, so as to walk through the difficult times we experience under the current circumstance. As History and the past have proved, the Armed Forces were the ones that always guaranteed the necessary national accord when facing critical situations.
If I would like the Armed Forces to address today, as a whole, the Hellenic society, as well as its delegates –since I happen to be one of them- I have to tell you that this is the message conveyed to me.
Therefore, I update in some way what we have lived in our History with what is currently happening in our country.
You said it earlier, Chief: these times are not easy. Yet in this area, the flag of pride, dignity and decisiveness has never been stroke.
I say this within Greece, and also abroad, that no matter what has happened, no matter how hard we are pressed by the financial circumstance that has been imposed on us, duty surpasses everything. I always remember the very first day I assumed my duties, when I heard the leadership of the Armed Forces say one phrase, which I conveyed outside the Armed Forces, one I was really touched from.
Let me remind it to you: “No matter what happens, no matter what may occur, no matter how many budget cuts will be done, we will die for Greece, if necessary”.
This is not something said easily and, most importantly, you do not see that today in Hellenic society. This is why we should be proud, because in this area a different culture has been developed, a different attitude, a different perception of the concept of country; and you keep all that in spite of any circumstances that might have troubled or displeased you.
All of you, once you cross the threshold of military academies of the Armed Forces, you are not seeking a steady profession. You have invested to your mission with national, ideological ingredients and this accompanies you throughout your mission. And when the day comes for you to leave the field that accommodated you, you carry all this into your social life.
I always said that the state has to make the most of the personnel coming from institutions and whose services should be used even when eventually they do not belong to the Armed Forces or other institutional bodies of the state.
Allow me to point out that another element characterising all those who have served in the Armed Forces and that relates to the culture and concept of this field, is compliance with the law.
I say that as a politician, since everyday in our country we experience various pictures and we live in a time when disorder, misrule and defiance prevail.
Therefore, that is the big difference among a field where prevail conscience, duty and a different Greece, one we must reconstruct sometime.
It is our responsibility, and the responsibility of the entire Hellenic society, a part of which you all are. You referred to the difficulties. Yes, that is true. The financial circumstance has pressured to suffocation the Armed Forces. The budget cuts are very big.
At a certain point, the very exercise of the right to life with dignity is ventured and offended for the personnel of the Armed Forces.
I have to tell you that, since we have the responsibility to administrate the situation, we have taken seriously into consideration all that. I never miss a chance to convey that message, no matter where I am. The political and military leadership have set a limit so as to stop this damage here and, when the circumstances will allow, to restore progressively many of the injustices done.
Therefore, the Armed Forces resist to the reality the Hellenic society is currently experiencing, and also generally to anything might manifest as a threat to our country.
For this reason I told you earlier that, if there is a certain value to the words we say today, that is exactly because they relate to our public mission, as well as to what I fell as a citizen of this country.
Thank you for the beautiful gift that accompanies me today to my participation in this celebration, which is full of symbolisms. The day dedicated to our Armed Forces is a synthesis of mythology, Christian faith and History, and it really makes all of us proud for this glorious branch, its competent personnel and its great contribution to defending our country’s rights.
Chief, we have to be very proud since we know how dependent and powerful is this country’s defence system. One of the best in Europe, despite any problems we might be facing. I do not hide from you that this is something I always assert to the contacts I have internationally.
However, these do not live through and cannot function if there is no spirit and morale, as you correctly mentioned in the Order of the Day you read earlier. This is something that can easily be discerned to the entire personnel of the Armed Forces.
Allow me to make a special reference. One of the reasons I decided to restore the parade of Thessaloniki to what Greeks knew, admired and waited for, related to what I just underlined; so that the Armed Forces would convey to the Hellenic society a message of security and confidence, so that the personnel itself would feel that the state is by their side and that society has every right to admire them and applaud them, but also to receive this message and feel safer and more secure during the difficult times we experience.
These do not just happen for reasons of diversion. It was a decision that was supported by the military leadership and finally the result is the one you felt and discussed with your families and friends, the one we received and perceived as an encouraging message. Because the re-establishment of institutional order is a responsibility we all have, at any level of representation of this state.
During the past years, all these have loosened. The situation I described earlier is the one we experience everyday and makes us feel grief and disappointment. A different Greece is coming, to raise our spirit, strengthen our soul and show us the path.
This is the great mission, beyond the deterrence force and readiness of the Armed Forces; to respond to any mission assigned to them by the country or the international law and order; to show spirit, to have morale, to maintain moral endurance, to have principles.
Greece of duty is here. It emits its message to the other Greece, until the time will come that these two will combine in view of a new perspective. I would like to believe that with the mutual effort of all Greeks, in the spirit of unity and accord, we will manage to find again, as a country and as a nation, our pace and direction, our prestige and injured dignity.
Chief, thank you once more and I wish many happy returns to everyone and strength for the great task you accomplish. I would like to congratulate you personally for the well-merited way you exercise your leadership.
Thank you».