The Alternate Minister of National Defence Panagiotis Rigas, during an interview on ALPHA TV station, on Friday, 21 December 2018, stated, among other things:
In our neighbouring country, they ought to be very careful in everything they say and do, and always respect the international conventions and rules. Their behaviour does not contribute to the development of the area, or to the peaceful coexistence of peoples. We have taken all the necessary measures, in order to prevent anything from happening. We have a strong deterrence force and we have the capability to hinder anything they might consider doing.
Greece, despite what is happening around us, is a pillar of stability in the area. Our Armed Forces are capable of fully defending our country’s territorial integrity. Despite the budget cuts over the past years, they managed, with their own resources and technical support, to maintain a high level of operation in our defence mechanism.
The military leadership said nothing more than what is self-evident, as I say as well: that our stance is decisive, defensive and deterrent; that we can deter any violation of our sovereignty rights. It is clear that it is the political leadership and the Governmental Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence that make any decision. The Armed Forces and their leaders are always ready to respond to what they are asked for.
What New Democracy presents as a new form of patriotism is a new form of nationalism. A patriot is a person who defends his land; and this action of defence includes also his land’s financial and social situation, but by no means does it include hate and fear for other countries.
