The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Christos Vaitsis, visited the 51st International Paris Air Show “Le Bourget 2015”.
The Minister of National Defence made the following statement:
“Today, with the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Christos Vaitsis and personnel of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, we had the pleasure to visit one of the greatest trade fairs regarding aviation and defence in the world.
Among us there are also Greek businessmen from Greek companies that participate in international partnerships on aeronautical issues. Moreover, I would like to say that I noticed with great pleasure that, no matter which exhibitor stand we visited or whom we discussed with, the name of the Hellenic Aerospace Industry was heard throughout the halls. The Hellenic Aerospace Industry has managed, thanks to its people only, to make important agreements through all these years; agreements with industries from around the world, i.e. from the United States of America and France, and is now expanding its activity to other countries, as a supplier. We are proud of the work done by the Hellenic Aerospace Industry.
The Government has decided to enhance defence industry. The Hellenic Aerospace Industry will be the forefront of this new policy we shall develop. However, in order to accomplish that, people renting should stop, along with all the “paracontracts”, and everyone should throw themselves to hard work and production.
A country equipped with technology has nothing to fear and in Greece technology has a name, and it is called Hellenic Aerospace Industry. Through partnerships with Greek industries and foreign key partners, it will conquer once more a bid part of defence aerospace industry. We shall stand by its side.
JOURNALIST: Mister Minister, does this mean that the demands of the institutions for further reduction in defence expenditures are rejected?
P. KAMMENOS: We never discussed this issue. We will not negotiate our country’s security with each lender’s daydreaming. I want to be clear: billions have flown from the Greek people’s money towards our lenders’ countries, and mainly towards Germany, for military supply, and mostly arms supply. The cost paid by the Greek people was disproportionate to the real cost. Billions were paid to Germany, France and other countries, large part of which was destined to bribing. Yet, corruption is like the tango, it always takes two; they can find the one, him who attacks Greece, they cannot hide the other.
If the lenders want to save money from Defence, they only need to bring Mr. Christoforakos to Greek authorities tomorrow morning; to explain to us all about Rheinmetall: since their own industry has been condemned for a 62 million Euros bribe it gave to Greece, whom did it offer the money to; to return the biggest part of two billion Euros Greece paid to Rheinmetall, and then do the same with HDW, and all those industries which enriched themselves on the Greek people’s money, helped by Greek politicians. They will receive more than 200 million; we will give them 400 million Euros from that money they stole, if they want to. Yet they should not even consider that they will reduce by one Euro the Armed Forces’ budget.
It has already been reduced by 58%. The personnel in the Armed Forces, both in active duty and retired, have been pauperized. We will restore this injustice to the Armed Forces’ personnel and, as far as Greece’s defence force is concerned, we will progress into the future mainly based on our defence industry, both public and private, ensuring the country’s national sovereignty. Because there are times when, while certain politicians negotiate our national sovereignty, some men fall, or are brought down, in the Aegean Sea for defending exactly that; national sovereignty.
Thank you very much”.
