The Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas, today, Friday 28 October 2016, represented the government during the celebrations for the national holiday of 28 October 1940, held in the city of Kozani.
The Alternate Minister on the occasion of the events stated the following:
“Today we are celebrating our national holiday of 28 October. Once again we reiterate our will and decisiveness as a nation to abide by human values, the values of democracy, and our decisiveness to defend our sovereign rights. In a very unstable region, a region tormented by wars and poverty, Greece is trying and can constitute a pillar of stability and democracy. In an era when the snake of fascism and Nazism is rearing its ugly head once again, Greece is the place where democracy is flourishing and that this the duty of us all, the government and the other democratic parties, and mostly the duty of the people who always overcome any difficulties and leave their own mark”.
Answering a question of the journalists on the decision of the Council of State he stated:
“The struggle against corruption and its results is a long lasting one. It has many different levels and I might add that one must always keep an eye on it. It is necessary to base this struggle on legality. The law concerning the licenses to be granted for TV Channels is a prerequisite, so that the people and our government may stand against corruption and the conflict of interests and fight them. This moment we are only faced with one episode. As of Monday we will have to solve the issue – following the decision reached by the Council of State – which is what happens in the meantime, until the National Radio and Television Council is established. Its establishment is in any case necessary and we had provided for it last February. It would be a great problem if the opposition parties do not consent to a common solution, that is to have an invitation to tender based on the decision and the Constitution. This is very important. The second issue is that the judicial decisions are respected, however, they are also judged at all levels. In any case, we must look forward based on what we have. It is clear that those who feel smug today thinking that they are on a podium lecturing, will soon realise that their smugness is bitter. I am referring to those who are at the roots of corruption”.
