The Minister of National Defence, Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Lieutenant General Christos Christodoulou, attended the 6th Air Power Conference, held in the Amphitheater of the Air Force Academy, in Dekelia Air Base, Tatoi.

The Minister of National Defence stated the following:

‘Today is a very important day for the Air Force. For the third consecutive year, Hellenic Air Force General Staff organises the annual Air Power Conference, with very important guests from friendly and allied countries, diplomats and academics.

Unfortunately, this coincides with the mourning week for the Hellenic Armed Forces, for our country, with regard to the loss of Georgios Baltadoros, who fell in action in peacetime, like Iliakis, Sialmas and other heroes of our Air Force.

Greece, through the recent decisions reached by the Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and National Defence and of Staffs, is essentially transformed into a big air center. Kalamata is transformed probably into the biggest air military academy in Europe. At the same time, all necessary actions are taken, that will soon be announced, in order to facilitate procedures for the Civil Air Force as well.

Due to the particular weather conditions of our country, Greece could become Europe’s Florida, with regard to the Civil and Military Air Force. Requests have already been submitted by many Middle East countries and their air forces, so that pilots and technicians are trained here. I believe this step will help in particular the evolution of the Military and Civil Air Force’.

JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: You used the term undeclared war. Why was that?

P. KAMMENOS: I made it clear once more yesterday, because we have dead heroes who fall in action, pilots are trained, exercise and fly, protecting our national sovereignty, engaging in interceptions; these actions are met only in war or at least under conditions of war. We do not deal with something different of what began in 1974, when Turkey decided to keep violating our national air space.

What we do, by respecting international law and the right to defend our national sovereignty is to intercept intruders in the Greek air space and our pilots are the last ones to land.

I would like to congratulate the Air Force on this great achievement. Unfortunately, this achievement has a negative aspect, young people who leave behind their families, children, colleagues. The percentage of ‘loss’ in many classes of the Air Force Academy is 10%. Young people ‘fall’ in peacetime, under conditions of war.

JOURNALIST’S QUESTION: Will elections in Turkey enhance the tension, along with the provocations and statements about Imia? Are you concerned about the escalation of the situation?

P.KAMMENOS: They have ran amuck with me, I do not know. I wish them all the best for the elections.