Kastellorizo ​​is the sandy island of the archipelago, part of the Megisti complex. A complex of enormous geopolitical importance. A complex that is an integral part of the Dodecanese. A pivotal point for her Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf of our country. This was emphasized by the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, who attended today, Friday, September 13, the events to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the liberation of the island of Megistis, as a representative of the government.

“Any attempt to separate from the Dodecanese, due to the proximity to the Turkish coasts, any isolated treatment of Kastelorizos, outside the framework of international conventions and Hague jurisprudence, constitutes a false and self-rejected claim” clarified Mr. Dendias.

The positions of our homeland for Kastellorizo ​​”they are clear, they are positions fully documented by the United Nations Convention on the International Law of the Sea“, he added.

“Article 121 paragraph 2 of the Convention provides that the islands are entitled to a coastal zone, a contiguous zone, an Exclusive Economic Zone and a continental shelf. And no differentiation is made for the size of the islandshe explained.

“Any opinion contrary to the clearly stated above cannot be accepted. And Greece is required by its current Constitution to defend the rights of our homeland, as determined by the Law of the Sea. If Greece tolerates any arbitrariness, a legal paradox will then be created, putting the rules of the International Law of the Sea in questionhe underlined.

Regarding Greece’s agreement with Egypt on the Exclusive Economic Zone, he said that it “strengthens both national and European interests and certainly underlines the sovereign rights of our country in the wider region”. “Greece, Egypt, Cyprus,” he continued, “coincide in their positions for a simple reason, because they respect the rules of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.”

“The reference to defense of sovereignty and sovereign rights suggests another need. The need to have a modern and strong Armed Forces” pointed out the Minister of National Defense. With the “Agenda 2030”, “we are creating the most powerful Armed Forces in the history of Hellenism, so that our homeland is able, regardless of the threat, to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights, thus ensuring peace and stability in the wider regionhe added.

“We live in a time when freedom, independence are facing each other between entanglements, they are facing each other and are threatened by authoritarianism and revisionism. Freedom is therefore not a given. We must preserve it with cost, effort, unity and historical memoryhe said.

The minister was accompanied by the head of GES Lt. Gen. Georgios Kostidis, the commander of ASDEN Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Theodorou and the commander of 95 ADTE Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Hatzis.

In the morning, Mr. Dendias attended the solemn eulogy at the church of Agios Konstantinos and Eleni, which was officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Symi, Tilos, Chalkis & Kastelorizo. Afterwards, the minister went to the hero of the island and laid a wreath.

Also present at the events were Ilia MP Dimitris Avramopoulos, as a representative of the Greek Parliament, the Dodecanese MPs Ioannis Pappas, Emmanouil Consolas, Tsambika Iatridis, Vassilios – Nikolaos Nikolaos Nikolaos Asvestis, representatives of local organizations and residents of the island.