Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Greek firefighters who assisted in Israeli wildfire honored

The 74 Greek firefighters, pilots and engineers who took part in extinguishing a massive wildfire in Israel in December were honored by minister of state Haris Pamboukis during a special ceremony on Tuesday attended by Israeli ambassador in Athens Arye Mekel and Greek ambassador to Israel Kyriakos Loukakis. 
 
Pamboukis presented honorary plaques to Airforce General Staff (GEA) chief Lt. Gen. Vassilios Klokozas, Fire Brigade chief Lt. Gen. Stylianos Stefanidis, disaster management team (EMAK) chief Vassilis Papageorgiou, 38 men from the Air Force and 36 EMAK firefighters for their participation in the mission. 
 
The minister said that the members of the mission had displayed extreme professionalism and high morale under very difficult conditions and served as an example of what Greece can do when it wants to and is organised. He also said that they contributed decisively to consolidating very good relations with Israel. 
 
"We helped a friendly country when it was in need. The EMAK men kept Greece high," Stefanidis said in turn, while Klokozas noted that both in times of peace and in periods of tension or crisis, the Airforce is always prepared to do its duty if needed. 
 
The Hellenic Airforce took part in the effort with four firefighting planes, 16 pilots and 22 technicians, who made 128 sorties and clocked in 90 flight hours during the mission. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANA-MPA