Kyriakos Mitsotakis | The border is guarded 365 days a year, 24 hours a day | VIDEO

Defence Redefined

Published on 10/07/2020 at 08:47

“Today, the Hellenic Coast Guard’s fleet is becoming more complete and stronger, welcoming the first of the 10 state-of-the-art vessels, another important donation of the Greek Shipowners’ Social Welfare Company “SYN-ENOSIS”,” said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The Prime Minister stressed that this donation multiplies the operational capabilities of the Hellenic Coast Guard, pointing out that the positive results of the state’s mobilization with all the productive forces of the country are now visible.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also pointed out that the new speedboats are responding to the challenges of the situation, especially in the Aegean Sea, and said that they will be the most effective guards of our maritime borders, while the integrated maritime surveillance system will strengthen the protection of the Aegean.

Also read: Support to the Greek Army and Security Forces | The donations of the last few months

“Refugee waves may have intercepted, but they did not end. Οur neighbors’ handling is unpredictable as experience has shown in Evros and on the islands. And as Eleftherios Venizelos used to say, the strongest argument is power. Not so much its use as its presence and its promotion,” said Mr. Mitsotakis. He also added:

“The doctrine of aggressive surveillance, preventing the entry of ships with illegal passengers, has already been effective. In April and May no boat passed through Lesvos. We had 45% reduced arrivals in the first half and 80% reduction in the last quarter compared to 2019.”

The Prime Minister said that the men and women of the Coast Guard take all the credits, but the situation today is also a message to traffickers.

“The roads of shame and fear are closed forever. The sea finally has borders and the Homeland has the plan, the power, and especially the people to defend them. And to show that they are not only Greek borders, but also European ones,” Mr. Mitsotakis added, thanking the men and women of the Coast Guard. 

“The border is guarded 365 days a year, 24 hours a day,” Mr Mitsotakis said, noting that the anti-ballistic armament of the donated boats is strong and that “we are concerned about the safety of the Coast Guard personnel who will man it. The crews will soon be able to see the benefits of the boats,” he said.

Finally, he said that the government is simplifying the proedures for donations, and now the donors will know the course of their offer, while he thanked the Laskaridis family for the recent offer of the General Support vessel “Hercules”.

The Prime Minister clarified that the donations do not suspend the obligations of the state and stated that the Coast Guard will be reinforced by hiring 30 new officers and 100 port guards through examinations in the training schools.

Also read: Four US MK-V Special Operations Crafts for the needs of the Greek Underwater Demolition Command

Source: APE MPE