“I will begin by extending my wishes to the Speaker of the Parliament, the members of the Presiding Committee and all the colleagues, from one wing of the Parliament to the other.
No one is here accidently. We are all assignees of the sovereign Hellenic people. I wish we will all be fortunate and carry out the mission assigned to us by the Hellenic people.
Ladies and Gentlemen, respectable colleagues,
In few hours, the Government under Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the coalition Government will ask for a vote of confidence by the National delegation and I believe that this is a vote of confidence we should give, granting the broadest possible political and parliamentary support for the Prime Minister, the coalition Government, the National Salvation Government, so that they will be able to succeed in their national mission, which is -simply and clearly- national recovery and this country’s salvation.
However, in order for this Government to be able to accomplish this national effort, there is a very serious prerequisite; we cannot allow this financial crisis become a crisis of national sovereignty, of national security, a crisis of national integrity and of the country’s independence.
This is our major and very first preoccupation, ever since we assumed the honourable duties of the Ministry’s of National Defence political leadership, with the two Deputy Ministers, mister Panayiotis Karambelas and mister Dimitris Elefsiniotis.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We know that the country marches within an environment characterised by instability and mutability. We have dynamically developing activity in the broader geopolitical and geostrategic region Greece belongs in, and we are obliged to take into account that despite the peaceful disposition of the simple Turkish citizen, the Turkish people, there is an influential fraction of the mastermind political and military elite in our neighbouring country Turkey who have chosen to doubt at any given chance our country’s national sovereign rights.
Unfortunately, such behaviour is not becoming of a country which is member of the same alliance as Greece and aspires at becoming a member of the European family as well.
Against this Turkish behaviour, our country could oppose a steady deterrence policy, with powerful and efficient Armed Forces, but also with clear red lines, we will not step back from, assuming at the same time responsibilities concerning the promotion of our rights and the reconstruction of an ambience of peaceful coexistence and harmonious cooperation between peoples in the broader region.
I would like to underline the fact that it is this Government’s chief priority to ensure the security of Hellenism in Cyprus and of Greek minorities – communities who live outside the Hellenic district’s borders.
As far as our defence policy’s basic principles are concerned; Greece will expand its role as an agent for stability in the broader area, with our enhanced participation to the international organisations we have historically played a leading part in.
Moreover, we have planned the enhancement of our bilateral relations with European countries, whether they are member-states of the European we traditionally have bilateral relations with – in matters of defence policy – such as Germany, France, the Netherlands and others, or European countries who are not part of the European Union, as well as with Greece’s traditional allies, such as the United Sates, claiming the interest of Greece, of the nation and of the Hellenic people at any sector and at any level.
Moreover, we think that it is absolutely advisable to promote our cooperation in defence issues -and not only- with the State of Israel, without this meaning that the country will abandon or give up the traditionally good and harmonious relations with Arabic countries, where –as you already know- new political systems emerge and look forward to the restoration of a connection with the European political reality.
Greece can consolidate this connection since, as far as Arabic countries are concerned, it does not have the colonial past other strong European states do.
We are decided to reinforce the sector of defence diplomacy, maintaining and enhancing Greece’s position within the international community.
As far as crisis management is concerned; National integrity, Ladies and Gentlemen, involves not only the country’s territorial integrity, but also all other components of national power.
From this point of view, national sovereignty is at a great extent identified with the capability to manage all kinds of crises.
For this reason, we proceed to studying the formation of a National Security Council, as in all modern and developed countries, which will be constituted of the top supreme staff officers and high service actors.
The National Security Council will be the par’ excellence crisis management advisory body. Therefore, it is easy to perceive that a readjustment of our strategic way of thinking and the construction of an organised network for the prevention, deterrence and, if the case may be, successful handling of any possible threat at national security level.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the light of current circumstances, we continue our course for the Armed Forces’ reconstitution.
The proper operation of structures and leadership will be strictly followed and we will form together with the military leadership new data in organizational as well as operational planning.
Our steady goal is the enhancement of the Armed Forces deterrent capability and their evolution, based on vertical command structure, jointness and interoperability; for those Armed Forces the Hellenic people need, for the fortification of its national security, for the Armed Forces of the 21st century.
To this direction, we regard as necessary that the planning fir the Armed Forces will lead to the less possible expenses for armaments, but to more modern and efficient weapon systems, to greater rapidity and flexibility to crisis management, to faster reaction, namely to better and faster reflexes and to the reduction of the Armed Forces’ operational cost.
In any case, allow me to say that the common denominator for all these aspirations is to keep high and further improve the Armed Forces’ dignity, their spirit and morale.
Our interventions will focus to the reorganization of the General Staffs, to the reduction – where needed – or the reorganization of formations and units, based on national strategy’s requirements.
To the suppression of non-directly useful military facilities, to the modernisation of Training Centres and to the rationalisation of their number.
To the development of a modern, reliable and unified operations’ command and control command system.
To the constitution of a new regulation for the country’s national defence planning. As far as armaments and infrastructure are concerned, I will refer to a sector many have been said for in the past.
In the area of armaments and infrastructure, rationalisation and redefinition of requirements and needs shall continue meticulously, solely based on documented operational needs and priorities, proportional to the scope and the threat.
Our goal is to re-modulate the law on procurement, to a more austere form, in such a way that it will further ensure transparency, consolidate the Hellenic people’s interests and take into consideration the relative Community Directive.
I would like to stress out that in this particularly critical field, Ladies and Gentlemen, everything will be done openly, with complete transparency and under the immediate control of the Parliament’s pertinent Committees; as well as under the immediate control of the pertinent institutional bodies, provided for by the laws of the Hellenic State and the Rule of Law.
I would like to inform you that in the Armed Forces’ budgets, drastic cuts have been already made. The expenditure on armaments has been cut by 68.18% since 2009. Operational expenses have been cut by 43.45%, also since 2009, while the expenditure on the personnel serving in the Armed Forces has been cut by 37%.
However, something that also happens with other parts of the Hellenic people, besides the Armed Forces are also a part of Hellenic people, has led many of the families of those serving in the Armed Forces to a very difficult reality; to a very tough financial state.
I would like to point out that our goal is to turn to advantage the potentials offered by the National Strategic Reference Framework and draw all resources available.
I need to summarise, since the available time is not enough, and underline that I simply want to invite all colleagues to stand – as Hellenic Parliament – by our Armed Forces, just as the Armed Forces stand by the Hellenic people, as part of it.
To defend, as we already do, at any given chance, their dignity and prestige. The Armed Forces, Ladies and Gentlemen, are the spot that unites us all, the spot where all the wings in the Hellenic Parliament should meet.
I would like to positively assure you that I fully realise the sacrifices made by the personnel in the Armed Forces and that I believe they deserve a public praise.
I would like to conclude with a couple of more thoughts, addressing all of you here.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have ahead of us a very difficult undertaking, all of us. I, personally, as well as you, I believe, and the entire Hellenic people stand before the history of the Armed Forces and their glorious contribution to this country with great respect.
This year, 2012, it is the 100th anniversary since the victorious Balkan wars. I would like to tell you that the wars of ’12 – ’13 started 15 years after 1897. A period during which Greece experienced one of the hardest and most dishonourable losses in its history.
Within 15 years, the Hellenic people managed to reform and double the size of Greece during the wars of ’12 – ’13.
At the time, the borderline of Greece hardly reached Melouna. I am not referring to that in order to make some kind of correlation with military operations or anything of this kind.
I am only referring to that so as to highlight the necessity for spirit and morale, the need for us all to reform, reset our forces, leave out anything that might be separating us and seek for what unites us; leave out political and party prejudice and find again the web of our national unity, national accord, national endeavour.
This struggle has already begun and it evolves by way of our Armed forces.
Let’s march all together.
I absolutely believe that all together we can and we must succeed.
Thank you very much”.
