At Chios is today for the celebration of Theofanion the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias. In his greeting to the gathered citizens at the city’s port and immediately after the water consecration ceremony, Mr. Dendias noted the national significance of the day by connecting the religious dimension of the event with the struggle of Hellenism for freedom and its special relationship with the sea.

As he said, Epiphany for the Greeks is not only an important religious celebration, but also a day that strengthens our national identity. “The sea is an element of our national identity. Today, thanks to the honorable cross, the seas are sanctified, in which battles were fought for our freedom”, he emphasized.

The minister referred to the agreements establishing Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) with Italy and Egypt, which he characterized as legally strong and fully in line with international law, while he condemned the Turkish-Libyan Memorandum, stressing that the Greek agreements are based “solidly on international law and in the international law of the sea”. As he made clear, Greece has the national strength and will to implement its agreements and defend its sovereign rights in the Eastern Aegean.

Mr. Dendias made it clear that the unified national narrative remains stable, being a cornerstone of national politics. As he pointed out, “the Armed Forces are the guarantors of this narrative, sending the right messages in every direction.”

Finally, he wished for Epiphany day, underlining that it is a celebration that unites Greeks, while strengthening our religious and national cohesion.

In detail, the greeting of Mr. Dendia is as follows:

“It is my joy and my emotion and I must tell you that I feel great national pride to be here today, in Chios, to celebrate Epiphany. As the word itself says, Theophanies are the appearance of God in our lives, each and every one of us through the sacrament of baptism.

But for us Greeks, Epiphany, today, is not only a religiously important day, it is also a nationally important day. It concerns the position and relationship of Hellenism in and with the sea. The sea is an element of our national identity. And today, through the Holy Cross, the seas are sanctified, on which struggles for our freedom were fought, and especially here, in the Eastern Aegean.

Ladies and gentlemen, the world is changing and instability is becoming the new geopolitical constant. So, in this environment of instability, our country seeks to remain a pillar of stability and a pillar of peace. And with the 2030 Agenda, our Armed Forces are immersed in innovation, so they too are reborn stronger.

They expect, therefore, a future of power based on new technologies and their new capabilities. For what reason? To have the power, the power to prevent any challenge, and to defend the sovereignty and sovereign rights of our country, whenever they are threatened, and at sea. Because that is their constitutional duty.

Ladies and gentlemen, Greece with the sea feels safe and strong. With the agreements defining Exclusive Economic Zones with Italy and Egypt, which I had the honor to sign, Greece is legally fortified and secured. These are agreements that are firmly established in international law and the international law of the sea, and stand exactly at the opposite of expansive, extra-legal constructions, such as the Turko-Libyan Memorandum. The agreements that Greece has signed are distinguished by their absolute adherence to both the European acquis and international law, as well as the values ​​and principles that make up our national identity.

And I want to be clear here, in the Eastern Aegean. Greece has the national power and the national will to implement these agreements. And on the field.

Ladies and gentlemen, the national narrative remains unified, European and timeless. The entire society co-signs it, the vast majority of the country’s political system also co-signs it. The Armed Forces, according to the Constitution, are the guarantors of this unified national narrative, emitting with respect to all the appropriate messages in every direction.

I am here to assure you of the commitment of the Armed Forces personnel in securing sovereignty and sovereign rights throughout the territory, but especially here in our islands of the Eastern Aegean. And to repeat the dedication of the Armed Forces to the unified national narrative, to which I referred above and which is a condition of Greece’s existence. Happy birthday to everyone on this day. Happy birthday and good luck.”