“Today is a day of mourning for the Greek people, for the nation and for the country’s Armed Forces.

Greek Officers entered during peacetime the pantheon of heroes, performing their mission, their duty, the oath they took when they entered the Armed Forces. They fell fighting for the security of us all.

We are all devastated; there are no words to say to their families.

The Ministry of National Defence, the Government, the entire political world, the Greek people, the thought of us all is with these families who lost their people. We will be by their side.

Therefore, I want us to dedicate this agreement, which essentially changes things as far as the migration issue is concerned, to these heroes.

After tough negotiations during the last 24 hours, in cooperation with Germany, as well as with other NATO member-states, we managed to ensure the assent of all NATO member-states to an agreement which will definitely settle the migration issue.

Up to now, Greece has paid dearly – amidst a financial crisis – the migration issue; and the price it paid was disproportional compared to other countries of Europe and NATO.

First of all, the decision taken ensures that NATO forces that will be developed in the Aegean Sea and the Turkish coastline will make sure that the migrants that will be arrested will be directly sent back to Turkey.

It is absolutely clear in the joint statement that the aim of this force is to stop criminal activity of those who traffic humans. Until now, we have paid it with the loss of 10,000 children and with thousands of casualties.

The second is that there is absolute respect of national sovereignty and of the borders, from all the partners. It is absolutely clear that Turkey, participating in the forces that will constitute the NATO group, will only operate within Turkish waters and Turkish airspace, and Greece within Greek waters and Greek airspace.

Moreover, it is very important that Search and Rescue is completely guaranteed and Greece’s sovereignty over this is recognised.

In a second stage, with this decision, NATO member-states that are also EU members will start to activate Frontex so that it will operate along Turkey’s borderline instead of operating at the Greek islands, after the conversion of Frontex to European Border Agency, which demands a political decision.

I would like to thank in particular our permanent representative to NATO, the General, the military and the diplomatic personnel for this difficult negotiation which was successfully completed.

I firmly believe that today’s decision closes a chapter Greece has dearly paid for, the chapter of illegal immigration.

Thank you very much”.