“Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

I will respect what Mr. Lykoudis said and I believe that it will be useful for us to remain loyal to the opinions that we expressed in the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs for the reason why each one of us votes for these agreements. And I will not express the opinion of the Government. I will just say that these agreements have a particular importance for Greece’s geopolitical position. It is particularly important that they were supported by a majority of the parties in the Parliament. Of course, each party supported them for its own reasons. I am not trying to accuse anybody, because, indeed, everybody may have voted or not voted for them for their own reasons. The parties that did not vote for it were given the chance to support their opinion.

I will be, therefore, very brief. I will answer the concrete questions which were asked by the Communist Party of Greece, by Ms. Kanelli.

At first, I assure the Plenary Session once more that the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Defence will never – as a firm policy of the Armed Forces and Greek national policy – take part in war operations in our neighbourhood which will put us in a difficult position towards friendly and allied countries.

And friendly and allied countries are not only the ones that belong to the European Union and NATO. Friendly and allied countries are also the ones with which Greece traditionally has ties of friendship and cooperation. They include of course Israel and the Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority.

Our firm policy is not to ever engage in such an engagement which may put these relations in our area at stake, by remaining loyal to our allied commitments and by making it clear to our allies, which is absolutely explicit and regardless of the change of governments.

The contract with Israel, therefore, does not conceal any capability of any Minister, by expanding this contract in the future, to fulfill such an action which is not described in this agreement or which may put the good relations of friendship and cooperation at stake.

The second issue is related to the third contract, the European Sky. You all know that this is an agreement that regards mostly the transformation of FIR. This will be achieved firstly at a civilian level, that is within the civilian aviation. What this contract does actually is to predict potential engagements related to the Armed Forces and, in particular, to our Air Force. It is not an abiding contract by which we will follow the political decisions of the Civil Aviation Authority, although it changes nothing, even at the level of the Civil Aviation, as far as the current air borders are concerned.

Since you referred to NATO aircraft participating in the common operation to deal with the refugees and migrants’ issue, I assure you that the SNMG2 NATO forces that participate in this operation absolutely respect the Greek national sovereignty and all flight rules are followed, as provided for, without any violation.

Turkey’s violations, violations of the national air space and overflights are continued indeed. I can say now, in the Parliament, that over the last 15 days they have been largely reduced. We are particularly happy when there are no violations or engagements. Anyway, in case of a violation there is always – and this should be taken for granted – an interception by the Hellenic Armed Forces, by the Hellenic Air Force. Violations are committed only by the Turkish Air Force and they are all dealt with in accordance to the provisions of the strategic planning, that is they are intercepted.

As far as the submitted amends are concerned, the Finance Minister and the competent Ministers – Mr. Skourletis, the Ministry of Labour and Mr. Tsakalotos – will explain them. There are four amendments.

As far as Mr. Balaouras and Ms. Vagionakis’ amendment on the extension of the regional HSWMA is concerned, as I was informed by the competent Minister Mr. Kouroumplis and the General Secretary of the Government, it will be accepted by the government, regarding athree-month extension.

I have also an amendment by Mr. Loverdos and Mr. Amyras. I would like to tell you that as far as this amendment is concerned, although it is submitted for the first contract and – as you know well, Mr. Loverdos, no amendments can be embedded in the first, as well as in the second contract with Israel and Egypt, because this contract is bilateral – the Ministry of National Defence took action immediately. And I thought that the olympic properties could not be given without any prior notice to the municipalities, after the burden that Kallithea, Tzitzifies and coastal municipalities had to undertake.

This is the reason why the Ministry of National Defence offered the Ministry of Justice – and it was accepted by the Minister of Justice – a military site where the procedures may be conducted. This was accepted. There has never been an issue. I assure you on behalf of the government and not only as Minister of National Defence or as Leader of the Independent Hellenes’ party – because we took action from the first moment – that this issue is over. The issue of a possible use of a building on the coastal zone by the Ministry of Justice no longer exists. It is over. I assure also the parliamentary group of “To Potami” party that this issue is over. It has been settled. The procedures which require for a larger space will be conducted in Rouf.

As far as the special salary categories are concerned, I would like to tell you that the Prime Minister referred to it personally during his last speech. I assure you, as Minister of National Defence, that the bill about the Ministry of National Defence is ready and it includes the exact budget headings, as it was requested, which will be reduced. They will regard the corresponding amounts and the personnel of the Armed Forces will not bear any burden. It will be submitted much earlier than September, as provided for by this amendment.

I would like to tell you, also, that during the speeches on the amendments which will be undertaken by the competent Ministers I will leave the ministers’ bench and I will sit with the Independent Hellenes party.
 
Today, we, as Independent Hellenes party, we have specific budget headings regarding the Ministry for Citizen Protection, the Ministry of Justice, apart from the Ministry of National Defence, which cover with certain headings sufficiently the capabilities that these ministries will have in the summer to pass bills. So, there will not be – as Prime Minister promised – any more burden for citizens belonging to the special salary categories and I refer mostly to the Armed Forces, the Security Services, the judicial sector and all the rest who belong to this category.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”