The Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias yesterday, Monday, December 12, 2022, he visited Formations and Units of the Land Army in the area of ​​responsibility of the 4th Army Corps (4th SS), in Thrace.

In the context of the visits, the Deputy Minister of National Defense was informed by the Commands about the current educational and operational activities of the Formations and Units and exchanged wishes with the executives, conscripts, civil servants and national guards, in view of the upcoming Christmas holidays and the advent of the new year.

The first stop of the visits of the Deputy Minister of National Defense, the river operations training area in the Neraidotopos area of ​​Evros of the 31st Motorized Brigade. Mr. Hardalias participated in an educational cruise and visited huts in the Evros River Delta, which as “advanced outposts” carry out national work in this sensitive border area. He also attended a demonstration of the recently received Armored Reconnaissance Vehicles (TTOA-ASV) M1117 and was informed about their use in the wide range of reconnaissance and surveillance missions in the region and the Greek-Turkish land border, significantly upgrading the operational capabilities of the Army, while strengthening the defense armor of the country. Finally, he met with officers of the mixed echelon of the Greek Police and the European Border and Coast Guard (FRONTEX), who participated in joint control operations of the Greek-Turkish border along the river Evros.

Subsequently, he went successively to the headquarters of the 1st Special Forces Operations Training Base Company in Nea Santa Rodopi and to the Headquarters of the 29th Mechanized Brigade and XXI Armored Brigade in Komotini.

Additionally, the Deputy Minister of National Defense held meetings with the Deputy Regional Governor PE Rodopis, Mr. Nikolaos Tsalikidis and the Mayors of Komotini, Mr. Ioannis GaranisMaronia Sapon etc. Konstantinos Haritopoulos, Mr. Xanthi Emmanuel TsepelisAvdiron, etc. Georgios TsitiridesMykis Mr. Deli Hussain Ritwan and Topirou Mr. Thomas Michoglou.

Also participated:

At a working lunch with the Commanders of XVI Motorized Infantry Division Major General Theodoros Hatzigeorgiou, 29 Mechanized Brigade Brig Panagioti Lionto and the Deputy Commander of XXI Armored Brigade Colonel Spyridon Papageorgiouat the Komotini Guard Officers’ Club.

At a working dinner with the Deputy Commander of the 4th SS Major General Georgios Triantisthe Chief of Staff of the 4th SS Brigadier General Dimitrios Arabatzithe Commanders of XXV Armored Brigade Brigadier General George Vasiliadisher IV Brigade Support Brig Nikolaos Tiropanisof the 4th SS Artillery Command Brigadier General Apostolo Tsoulouvi and of the Transfers Administration of the 4th SS Brigadier General Michael Boutsikoudiat the Xanthi Guard Officers Club.

The Deputy Minister of National Defense was accompanied by the Commanders of the 1^her Army/EU–OHQ Lieutenant general Angelos Houdeloudis and of the 4th SS Lieutenant General Ioannis Tsioplos. The local Army Formation Commanders were present as the case may be.

On Sunday, December 11, Mr. Hardalias had a working meeting with the Commanders of the 1st Army/EU-OHQ Lieutenant General Angelos Houdeloudis, of the 4th SS Lieutenant General Ioannis Tsioplo, of the XII Mechanized Infantry Division Major General Panagiotis Kavidopoulosof the 7th Motorized Brigade Brig Ioannis Papoutsakisof the 31st Motorized Brigade Brig Spyridona Salivero and her XXIII Armored Brigade Brigadier General George Vassiosin Alexandroupolis.