The Alternate Minister of National Defence Fotis Kouvelis, accompanied by Chief HAFGS Lieutenant General (Ι) Hristos Hristodoulou, visited on Thursday 17 May 2018 formations and units of the Air Force located in the area of Larissa. He visited the National Air Operations Centre at Koutsohero-Larissa, the Hellenic Tactical Air Force and the 337 Squadron of the 110 Combat Wing.The Alternate Minister, accompanied by Chief HAGS Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis, will visit on Friday 18 May 2018 the Career NCO School at Trikala, the 1st Army HQ in Larissa and the European Union Operation Headquarters (EUOHQ), as well as the 404 General Military Hospital of Larissa.The Alternate Minister, addressing Air Force personnel, emphasised their decisive role to the enhancement of the country’s deterrence force and particularly mentioned the sacrifice of Captain Georgios Baltadoros, who lost his life while on duty. 

Referring to the relations with Turkey, he stated the following:

We live at a time when our neighbouring country escalates its aggressive rhetoric, presenting the dispute over Greek islands as a seemingly existent matter. It is an effort which is made by the Turkish side, not only regarding the needs of Mr. Erdogan’s election campaign, but mostly because he wants to define matters of dispute, or matters of updating-reviewing the Lausanne Treaty, as self-proclaimed existing matters.
Greece is a peaceful country that wishes to promote in the broader region peaceful cooperation and coexistence with the other countries. At the same time, our country conveys to all directions the message that we are all decided to defend our sovereign rights, as they are explicitly and positively recorded and defined by both the Lausanne Treaty and the Paris Treaty, as well as the International Law in general.
Mr. Erdogan will insist on this rhetoric, as he believes that in this way he will manage to produce a field for negotiation, his aspiration being to establish the presence of Turkey in the broader Cypriot EEZ area. At the same time, Turkey’s foreign policy is also vulnerable and fragile, due to the fact that its alliances are both uncertain and unsteady. Therefore, the aspect that this situation of aggressive rhetoric will carry on, with all its possible consequences, forms in our country the special requirement to enhance our deterrence capability, at armaments level as well as at Armed Forces’ personnel level.  

Answering the journalists’ questions, he stated:

Regarding the migration issue, on the occasion of his visit to Koutsohero:

“The migration flows are increasing. The Ministry of National Defence positively contributes to the improvement of the refugees’ living conditions, contributing with personnel but also, as far as the infrastructure is concerned, with sites where the refugees are accommodated. The refugee issue is general. Our country has undertaken a huge burden, yet on the basis of its humanitarian values, it does whatever possible, in the best possible way, to respond to the needs of the foreign citizens who are pursued and end up in Greece, in quest of a better life”.
Regarding the detention of the two Greek servicemen in the prison of Andrianoupolis:
“Our efforts carry on and intensify on multiple levels. I refer to the level of our foreign policy and international relations. We have intensified these efforts and we will proceed in the same way. If you ask me for estimation on when the two servicemen will be released, my answer would be that no one could define that. Our two servicemen are illegally held, especially since no accusations have been filed. Turkey’s and Mr. Erdogan’s attitude is unacceptable and offends the International Law, as it has included a simple incident to an aggressive stance and rhetoric, on which I believe that the Turkish President will insist, violating International Law in his effort to create the circumstances, at least according to his naïve beliefs, for the review of the International Treaties which explicitly define our sovereign rights”.  

Regarding the resignation of the Council of State President:

“The President of a supreme court should not resign, especially by justifying his resignation using arguments that he only believes are such”.