The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos after his meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meda the following statement:
“I would like to inform you that the Prime Minister and I had an hours-long meeting. I informed him about issues of corruption in the Armed Forces and especially on those regarding armaments.
As you know, from the first moment that I took office as Minister of National Defence, we created the Armed Forces Committee on Internal Affairs of the Ministry of National Defence.
The officers who assumed this responsibility started from conducting an audit in the general secretariat for armaments. About two of the cases, we already have the first proofs – very important evidence – from which potential felonies may arise and huge amounts of money which the Greek people have paid and the persons accountable will be examined under civil and penal code.
We agreed with the Prime Minister that these cases – although they are still at the first examination stage and while the inquiry is still being conducted by the Committee of Internal Affairs – should be presented to the Justice, so that they will be associated with files already examined by the Justice.”
JOURNALIST: Which time period do they regard and which cases are we talking about?
P.KAMMENOS: The main two cases are the NH-90 helicopters, which began in 2003 and is still underway, and the submarines case which began in 1998.
JOURNALIST: As far as yesterday’s retirements and appointments in the Armed Forces are concerned, the New Democracy party accuses the government that it retires very capable personnel, in an announcement.
P.KAMMENOS: This announcement shows that the new appointments were being performed until today because the Ministers decided the appointments of the Chiefs in the Armed Forces. The latest appointments which were decided by the Council of Chiefs of the General Staffs were appointments made by the chain of command of the Armed Forces without any political intervention.
As I promised from the very beginning, the Armed Forces will be commanded by their military command without any political interventions.
JOURNALIST: About the Turkish NOTAM, do you feel satisfied that Turkey withdrew it?
P.KAMMENOS: I believe that it was a very successful result and this success belongs to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Nikos Kotzias. It is clear that this government is a government which draws a serious and reliable policy of national sovereignty.
Thank you very much.
