On Monday, 29 October 2018, the Alternate Minister of National Defence Panagiotis Rigas visited Army and Air Force units and formations, located in Larissa, accompanied respectively by the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis and the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General Christos Christodoulou.

Specifically, he visited the Hellenic 1st Army headquarters – where he was welcomed by the Commander of the Hellenic 1st Army Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis, he was guided through the facilities and informed on the Hellenic 1st Army’s mission and addressed the personnel of the EU Operational Headquarters, of Larissa Nursery School located inside the Hellenic 1st Army site, as well as of 404 Larissa General Military Hospital.

The Alternate Minister of National Defence addressed the personnel of the Hellenic 1st Army and stressed that its area of responsibility is an integral part of our country’s defence sector, and added:

“Every day, you accomplish an important national duty and I want to stress, from the start, that we are proud of you. You play a key role in guaranteeing the defence and the consolidation of a feeling of security among the Greek people.”

He continued, by stressing: “The political and military leaders of the Ministry of National Defence, being fully aware of the difficulties and problems you face in the execution of your very important mission, constantly implement multiple actions for the improvement of the living conditions for both you and your families.”

He also referred to the Armed Forces’ contribution to society, underscoring that they stand by the Greek citizen through multiple actions.

By making a special reference to Turkey’s attitude, he pointed out the way Greece deals with the provocations of the neighbouring country, that is with composure and determination.

Regarding the National Guardsmen, he pointed out that they contribute to the support of the military forces. He claimed that they must be under the Armed Forces’ full control and that incidents of Fascist and Nazi attitudes must be dealt with strictness, like the one with a national guardsman who was convicted for criminal actions.

Afterwards, the Alternate Minister visited the National Air Operations Centre in Koutsohero; the Chief of the Tactical Air Force Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis welcomed him, showed him the facilities and informed him on the Centre’s mission. Then, the Alternate Minister visited the Tactical Air Force Headquarters in Larissa and addressed the personnel.

In his address, he stressed the key role of the Tactical Air Force Headquarters and laid emphasis on the following:

“We are a peaceful country. We seek peace and stability. This must not be regarded as weakness. We will not allow anyone and in any way to question our sovereign rights. In this context, you constantly confirm that you rule the national air space. The determination depicted in your face personifies deterrence, which is the constituent of our defence doctrine’.

He made a special reference to the fighters’ crews:

“A corroboration of the above is the constant presence of our fighters’ crews, who sacrifice their lives, when facing the provocations from Turkey. Everyday, you confirm that, despite the limited assets and the reduction of the provided resources, you fully respond to your mission, which is nothing more than defending our sovereignty rights and ensuring our Country’s air defence”.

He also stressed: “You are the real proof that Greece, even in these difficult circumstances, possesses effective Armed Forces, which secure its territorial integrity and independence and they rightfully constitute a constant factor, that guarantees stability in the wider area”.

He stated: “In any case, the Hellenic State appreciates your sacrifices, since, due to the financial crisis, you have suffered extreme salary cuts, along with the rest of the people. We feel your agony and we are moving towards correcting the injustices”.

In reply to journalists’ questions, the Alternate Minister stated, among others:

Regarding the salary back pay:

“As Government, we support the Armed Forces and through the first Bill presented the issue of active and retired officers’ back pay is dealt with. We support all those who suffered the most severe consequences of the crisis, all social classes that in the past time period put their shoulders to the wheel and suffered. They will be reimbursed from what our country’s growth offers. It is a new dawn for our country. We have a budget that shows that our economy has come back to normality, as well as the other EU countries, and at the same time we regain democracy, meaning that we are not under surveillance anymore”.

Regarding a question about how many part payments will be made:

“Until the end of February they will have been completed”.

Regarding New Democracy party:

The major opposition must realize that it has not acted in a manner suitable to a responsible opposition party over the last period. Its practice was to constantly ask for elections, with no effects, and at the same time, it was deeply anti-social. Their decisions did not benefit the Greek people. The next day will be very different. The Greek people will realize that. In 2019 elections, the Greek people will demonstrate their wish for the day to come”.

Regarding provocations on behalf of Turkey:

“We deal with them with poise and composure and mainly we try to persuade the neighboring country that it is for the benefit of all to preserve the peace in the region. Our country kept this attitude in the past years, which is recognized worldwide. We insist and we keep stating that provocations do not benefit anyone. The answer will be clear in the political arena. The sovereignty rights are presumed and we defend them to the last, always in accordance with the applicable international Treaties. We respect and adhere to these Treaties; our neighbours should do the same”.

Regarding the facilitation of U.S. forces in the region:

“In the context of our obligations towards NATO and the EU, there are these uses and this function. We do not participate in actions other than our political framework, that is we do not participate in operations”.