The Field Exercise “Nychterini Astrapi 2013” was conducted last night in “Aetos” Field, Evros prefecture, at the presence of the Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos.
The exercise was also attended by 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 Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General Evangelos Tournas.
During his address to the participants in the exercise, Mr. Avramopoulos underlined, among other things:
“We observed scenes which unfolded before our eyes and convey a message of security and confidence to Hellenic society and Greek citizens; a message of stability for our broader region.
It is also, of course, a message of stability, towards the Greek people. Because all that have cost so much and have occurred through sacrifices made by the Greek citizens, finally produce results.
Greece may feel safe. Because our country’s Armed Forces guarantee its security, safety, independence and integrity and at these dire times, when everybody thinks that Greece is devastated, they send their own strong and loud message: that Greece stands still, proud, always ready to respond to its duty, to its commitments emanating from international law.
Besides expressing our congratulations, being fully aware of the difficulties you deal with here, I would like to assure you that along with the military leadership we take action to solve all these problems gradually and, most importantly, to make your right in life with dignity another matter of priority, besides education, training and equipment.
It is your soul that hides behind all those weapon systems. You must know that Greek people and the Greek state acknowledge this.
Your parents, relatives, friends, your people must be proud of you and, together with them, you must also be proud of yourselves. Because in these difficult times we need to remind that a great part of the Greek people, the Armed Forces, stand still, proud, and defend our national dignity, our integrity and contribute to our common effort to help our country find again its orientation and pace.
I would like to tell you that apart from feelings of love and recognition we confide our country’s fate to your officers and to you all. I am sure you have a sense of your national duty. You prove it every day although your work is not given the publicity of such an exercise. You are here, committed to defend our country’s independence and freedom.
I would really like to thank you, to congratulate you and encourage you to keep performing your duties in this special manner.
With a sense of duty, honour, pride and dignity.
Because it is these four notions that our country and its society need now.”