Representatives of the political, economic, and cultural life of the country, members of the Armed Forces, diplomats, local government officials, judges, academics, and artists, among others, were present yesterday at the unveiling ceremony of the new bioclimatic facade of the central building of the Ministry of National Defence.

In a unifying atmosphere, the ceremony took place in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Speaker of the Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, in the surrounding area of the “Papagos” Camp, marking the transition of the natural headquarters of the Armed Forces to a new dynamic phase, comparable to the changes and challenges of the 21st century. “Art marks the concept underlying the major reform entitled “Agenda 2030″ that we are implementing in the Armed Forces of the country. Change of structures. Change of means. Change of culture. Change of perception. The passage to the 21st century” described the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias, who added that “the new image of the Ministry is not just an aesthetic intervention. It is a symbol of adaptation to new conditions and new requirements.”

Furthermore, the Minister of National Defence focused on the fact that “a strong, clear coupling is being created between the past and the future. Between tradition and progress. The opening to the new, to the innovative presupposes the solid foundations of respect for tradition,” he said, while announcing developments in the case of the Unknown Soldier. According to the Minister of National Defence, “given the new role of the Armed Forces at the site of the Unknown Soldier Monument, I think that today’s event is the ideal time to announce that, very soon, a competition will be announced for the designation of the Unknown Soldier Monument and its role as a point of National Unity and common Historical Reference. A reference to memory and respect to the Unknown Dead of the wars of Greece,” he said.

Forthcoming renovations

Apart from the new, bioclimatic appearance, however, a series of renovations await the interior of the building, according to the Minister of National Defence, as Piraeus Bank has undertaken the cost of completing the exterior of the building, while HELPE will modernise the interior of the building. These donations follow on from those of Mr Thanos Laskaridis,” Dendias announced.

The most ambitious modernisation programme

Against the backdrop of the “reborn” Pentagon, “in our country, the most ambitious modernization program of the armed forces in their history is evolving,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during his remarks, as the “new image of the ministry and the camp that surrounds it is reflected, as Mr. Minister, this ambitious, bold transformation, necessary modernization of the Greek armed forces,” he added.

“We have to complete the entire facade of the building, but especially the interior modernization, so that its functionality is now in full alignment with this impressive facade. It is the least we owe to those who have dedicated their lives to national defence. We honor, however, those who honor the national emblem first and foremost when we provide them with the means to be able to fulfill their mission, all the more so in a world of unprecedented geopolitical upheaval, uncertainty, and constant instability. A fact of the times that now makes the defence of our sovereignty an absolute, non-negotiable national priority,” as the Prime Minister explained. In terms of deterrent power, “we have already acquired upgraded Rafale fighters, upgraded F-16 Viper, soon, F-35 aircraft, an Air Force which now ensures our strategic air superiority, projecting deterrent power throughout the region. After many years, our Navy is being modernised with the Belh@rra frigates and the Italian Bergamini frigates. The Land Army is being equipped with cutting-edge systems,” he said, noting that Greece is also deploying the “Achilles Shield”, an impenetrable multi-layered protective shield.

In addition, Mitsotakis stressed that domestic Greek industry will actively participate in the Armed Forces’ programmes.

The Greek government will also participate in the active participation of Greek companies in the Greek national defence sector.
It should be noted that the donor of the project, Evangelos Mytilineos, as well as its creator and sculptor, Kostas Varotsos, gave greetings, while the event started with a tribute to the 1940 anniversary.

The spectacular event:

The ceremony was also attended by the Vice President of the Government Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus Vassilios Palmas, the Minister of Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiades, the Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameos, Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis, Minister of Immigration and Asylum Thanos Pleyris, Minister of Rural Development and Food Costas Tsiaras, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Yannis Kefalogiannis, State Minister Akis Skertos, Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, with responsibility for Sports, Yannis Vroutsis, the Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis, other Deputy Ministers of the Government, 111 MPs of the New Democracy, MPs of opposition parties, MEPs, the MEP and former Minister of National Defence Vangelis Meimarakis, the President of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament, Dora Bakoyannis, the former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the Members of Parliament and former Ministers of National Defence Nikos Panagiotopoulos and Evangelos Apostolakis, the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence Antonios Economou and the former Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos.

Also in attendance were the Chief of the General Staff General Dimitrios Houpis, the Regional Governor of Attica Nikos Hardalias, the Regional Governor of the Ionian Islands Ioannis Trepeklis, the Mayor of Athens Harris Dukas, the Mayor of Papagos – Cholargos Ilias Apostolopoulos, the Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Kostidis, the Chief of the General Staff Vice Admiral Demetrios – Eleftherios Kataras PN and the Chief of the General Staff Vice Admiral (I) Demosthenes Grigoriadis, the Chief of the Hellenic Police Lieutenant General Demetrios Mallios, the Chief of the Fire Brigade Lieutenant General Theodoros Vayas.

Also present were His Grace Bishop Nicodemus of Epidaurus as the representative of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, the Bishops of Helium, Acharnon and Petroupolis, Mr. Chrysostomos, Mr. Chrysostomos of Messinia, Mr. Dorotheos of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea and Milos, Mr. Simeon of Fthiotida, Mayors of Attica, representatives of Justice and Military Justice, donors of the Armed Forces, representatives of regional and local authorities, foreign diplomatic authorities and Defence Attaches.

Watch the entire unveiling ceremony:

During the unveiling ceremony, a performance took place, directed by Sophia Spyratou and her artistic team. The narrators of the event were Angela Gerekou and Aris Sakellaridis, with Manolis Mitsias and Angelos Papadimitriou as performers, under the musical direction of the Chief Musician Commander Commander Efstratios Sitsa PN and accompanied by a section of the Armed Forces Band of the Armed Forces. The script and the texts were edited by Lambros Liavas, while the costume design was done by Demi Valthioti. Students of the Military School of Evelides, the Military School of Naval Cadets, the School of Icons, and the School of Naval Officers participated in the performance.