On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Imia Crisis, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued a message of honor and remembrance for the three Hellenic Navy officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. In his statement, the prime minister refers to the enduring importance of national vigilance, emphasizes that there are no “grey zones” in the Aegean, and links the sacrifice of the fallen to the country’s current strategic choice for strong defense, active alliances, and social cohesion.

His post in full:

“Thirty years ago, love for the homeland made Christodoulos Karathanasis, Panagiotis Vlachakos, and Hector Gialopsos immortal in our collective memory. Today, Greece repays that honor to the three heroes—by strengthening its defense, deepening its strategic alliances, and forging the unity of society through the progress of its economy.

In the Aegean there are no ‘grey zones,’ only blue waters that declare our sovereignty and national rights to be non-negotiable, regardless of whatever unfounded challenges may be voiced by anyone. The homeland repels dead-end tensions, as well as every provocative behavior—clearly, whenever and however it chooses, and at the level that is appropriate each time.

After all, the experience of Imia teaches that national vigilance must be a daily duty. That is why, this year as well, we bow to the fallen, with our thoughts with all those who proudly wear the national emblem on their chest. Because in their hopeful faces is reflected Greece’s determination always to project the strength of its values—while at the same time, the value of its strength.”