The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos visited today, Thursday February 19 2015, the HQ of the 1st Army, the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command, the Hellenic European Union Operational Headquarters in Larissa, the 110 CW and he also inaugurated the National Air Operations Centre.

The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of the HAFGS Lieutenant General (AF) Evangelos Tournas and the Chief of the HAGS Lieutenant General Christos Manolas.

The Minister of National Defence made the following statement:

“It is a great joy for me to be today here in Larissa. I had the pleasure and the honour of visiting for the first time as Minister of National Defence, the 1st Army and discussing with the General, the Officers and the personnel. We visited the Hellenic European Union Operational Headquarters which supports joint operations in Central Africa; a HQ which proved that the Greek Armed Forces can impeccably cooperate with other European armies.

Just before, we inaugurated a top-ranking project for the Hellenic Air force, the National Air Operations Centre here, in Larissa, along with the leaders of the Air Force. Using an ultramodern system, the country’s entire Air forces will be controlled in the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command and later on in the 110 CW. For the Armed Forces, Larissa is a second Pentagon, a second HQ, and it will continue being so. I would like to thank the military authorities, the Head of the Region, as well as the MPs who were present here today”.

JOURNALIST: Given the opportunity, could you make a remark on the election of the 7th President of the Hellenic Republic?

P. KAMMENOS: I believe that we will have the joy of receiving Mr. Pavlopoulos here as well. It is important that during a difficult circumstance, when the nation united negotiates abroad, we have a President of the Hellenic Republic elected by a great majority. This means that us Greeks can unite and when we are united and claim jointly, we can succeed in our goal.

Within the next hours, at the Eurogroup, we have a battle to give. I am certain that Greece united, having a new President of the Republic and political forces which have realized that they can no longer oppose to a national effort, will accomplish what is rational; since, what the Greek Government asks for, that is Democracy to be implemented, is the rational thing to do. The citizens should choose the policy to be practiced by an elected government. This will happen soon enough, in order for the new course of this country, with a new political system and a new political practice, to stop the impoverishment of Greeks, to stop unemployment, internal devaluation and closures.

As far as the Armed Forces are concerned, I would like to say that we have already shaped a new policy. As I have already announced, the 1st Army here in Larissa will receive, along with the islands and the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands, the conscripts serving today at big cities, as well as the next training series, so as to achieve a satisfactory quota for the enhancement of the Armed Forces by conscripts to the Units. As you also know, the first decision we took was to give the borderline allowance for the personnel serving at Macedonia, Thrace and the islands of the Aegean.

It is a commitment of this Government – and I repeat it from here, from the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command – to implement the Council of State’s decision and justify the Armed Forces’ personnel for the enormous injustice they suffered.  

JOURNALIST: Will it be given in the form of lump sum or as partial payment, mister Minister?

P. KAMMENOS: First of all, the raise to the wages and pensions will be made; this is something we can imminently give. Hopefully, by the end of March, the Board will decide on the installments so as to give back pays, a partial payment every month.

You should know that they will accrue from several armaments cases, which have already been brought to the internal Affairs Directorate.

JOURNALIST: Mister Minister, as far as the re-establishment of the joint groups for engineer reconstruction (MOMA), will there be such a centre in Larissa?

P. KAMMENOS: The planning is to have one in Larissa. The groups will start from Loutraki, from the Engineers Corps in Loutraki, they will continue in Macedonia, in Thrace and then probably in Larissa there will be a big Unit. We already had discussions with the Heads of Region, as well as with your colleagues in military reportage. You know well that here in Larissa, MOMA was the Unit which constructed the roads in most mountain villages and in the islands.

JOURNALIST: When will this happen? 

P. KAMMENOS: I hope that, with the legislative context, the first MOMA will be ready within the first six months.

Thank you.