The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos met with the Minister of Defence of Romania Mihai Fifor, who pays an official visit to Greece.
After the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos made the following statement:
«Romania and Greece have excellent and historic relations in all areas, which are based on our peoples’ common historic and cultural experiences and ambitions, and on the steady course towards commonly facing the challenges in the Balkan region, through NATO and the European Union.
In addition to an integrated approach and understanding, these challenges demand a strong political will, combined with sufficient and efficient military capabilities.
With my dear colleague, we had a long and very interesting discussion of strategic character, regarding our bilateral relations and the situation in the broader Balkan region, as well as numerous international problems which torment our common security environment, which is evolving dynamically.
We reaffirmed our two countries’ intent to promote their bilateral defence relations, on the basis of mutually beneficial activities and cooperation, which will be characterised by the utilisation of our comparative and competitive advantages, as well as by the complementarity of our actions; in this way, we will mutually face the challenges emerging in our region.
The fact that you reciprocated the visit we paid in Bucharest two months ago is indicative of the mutual will to enhance our bilateral cooperation, and extend it further than the field of defence.
Greece and Romania are at Europe’s borderline, where the threats against security are greater and more obvious. However, we share the determination, vigour and decisiveness to face them through e series of coordinated initiatives and actions.
Our aim is to form an arc of stability and security, which will extend from the Balkans to the Middle East; we convey a message to all countries looking forward to cooperation and stability, to join us in the effort to achieve peace and prosperity for our peoples.
We have already agreed to include Romania in the bilateral and trilateral cooperation we share with Middle Eastern countries.
In addition, opportunities emerge in the context of our defence-technical cooperation. We encourage state and private companies towards this end, and I believe that we will be able to announce soon vital cooperation for our countries’ armament programmes.
Greece and Romania will walk side by side towards the future, towards the cooperation of our defence industry.
We ascertain that the developments in the European Union shape the prerequisites which will provide important business opportunities to the small and medium sized enterprises of this sector, if used correctly and completely.
Therefore, walking towards the same direction with Romania, I am certain that the outcome of our cooperation will be to the benefit of our Armed Forces, our countries and our broader region in general.
I welcome the Minister of Defence of Romania in Greece and hope that we will soon have the opportunity to observe together the largest exercise of our countries’ Special Forces, on 6 June.
In conclusion, I would like to publicly thank the Minister of Defence of Romania for his support, as far as the liberation of the two Greek servicemen imprisoned in Turkey is concerned”.
