The Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos had a 40-minute meeting at Moscow with the Russian Defence Minister Mr. Sergey Shoygu.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the International conference on security matters which currently takes place in the Russian capital by initiative and organised by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.

The aforementioned International conference is joined by Defence Ministers by various Governments, as well as by NATO member-states.

The Greek Minister spoke in the afternoon at the International Conference on European Security on the matter: “Security challenges in the Mediterranean”, extensively referring to the dangers emerging in the Mediterranean basin due to the rapid reversals which take place in countries of the region.

During his meeting – at bilateral level – with the Russian Defence Minister Mr. Shoygu, Mr. Panagiotopoulos discussed, among other things, all issues pertaining to the Defence cooperation with the Russian Federation, while the two Ministers exchanged views on the situation shaped in the broader area of the Mediterranean, as well as in North Africa, with strong catalysts -among others- the reversals in Syria, Libya etc.

Mr. Panagiotopoulos, authorised by the President of the Hellenic Republic gave to Mr. Shoygu a letter by Mr. Papoulias addressed to the Russian President Vladimir Putin, which comprises an invitation extended by the Greek President to his Russian counterpart for an official visit to Greece.

After his meeting with Mr. Shoygu, the Minister of National defence made the following statement:

“I am here in Moscow following an invitation of the Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, so as to participate and speak to an international conference on European security which takes place here.

On the sidelines of the conference’s works, I had the chance to have a meeting at bilateral level with my colleague Mr. Shoygu, during which we discussed all matters of mutual interest, matters of defence cooperation between Greece and Russia.

As it is known, Greece is a consistent member of the NATO Alliance, yet this does not prevent us from developing relations of friendship and cooperation with other countries, such as the Russian Federation, with the people of which we are united with common historic traditions with reference to mutual Orthodox Christian values.

May I underline that during my meeting with Mr. Shoygu, being authorised to do so by the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias, I gave him a letter extended by Mr. Papoulias to the Russian President Vladimir Poutin. As I am informed, the letter contains Mr. Papoulias’ invitation to Mr. Poutin to visit Greece”.