The President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias received today the Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos at the Presidential Mansion.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos briefed the President of the Hellenic Republic on the Armed forces’ New Structure, on his upcoming visit to Russia, as well as on the visit to Israel that is being scheduled for next month.
The Minister of National Defence, after exiting the mansion, made the following statement:
“As I have the custom of doing regularly, I came to brief the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias who, according to the Constitution of the Hellenic Republic, is the head of the Hellenic Armed Forces on matters of his pertinence.
Among other things, we also discussed issues concerning the Armed Forces’ New Structure, which is currently a fact. In w few days we will go to the second meeting of the Parliament’s Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defence, so that it will be approved and then go to the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence.
The New Structure is the outcome of the hard work done by the General Staffs during the past two, two and a half years, and will actually provide us with Armed Forces for the 21st Century, efficient, with decisive reinforcement of combat units and further enhancement of our deterrent power and operational readiness, reducing at the same time the administrative structures, where they are not necessary, and – may I also say – the military bureaucracy.
After these changes to the Armed Forces’ structure, due to the new structure we will have important savings of assets, even though this wasn’t the primary goal. The first goal was to ensure efficient Armed Forces, adapted to the 21st Century’s strategic purposes.
The second issue I wanted to brief the President of the Hellenic Republic on was my forthcoming visit to Moscow. Next Wednesday I depart for the Russian capital, where I will have the chance to participate to an International conference on security matters and also meet with the Russian Minister of Defence Mr. Sergey Shoygu.
The President pointed out the special importance given to the revitalisation of our relations with the Russian Federation. Moreover, I also informed him of another visit I will pay in Israel, which will take place in mid June. A visit which is also very important, since it is known that the Government under Samaras brings into effect, and as Minister of National Defence I carry it out, certain initiatives for the further consolidation of our relations with the State of Israel in matters of defence and military cooperation”.
JOURNALIST: Mister Minister, as Government, do you have the goals the President of the Hellenic Republic talked to you about, I mean the revitalisation of relations with the Russian Federation? Will you have this kind of contacts?
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Of course. Look, I believe that with the Prime Minister’s visit to the Russian Federation, which is being scheduled and the relevant press releases will follow, but also by initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Avramopoulos and our own efforts, we take coordinated action in order to succeed to the revitalisation of the relations between Greece and Russia.
Of course, Greece is a NATO member-state, Greece has numerous alliances to the western world which it honours; it honours its signature. Yet, this does not prevent us from equally honouring our traditional friendly relations with great and important countries, such as the Russian Federation.
This is the direction we are moving to, in coordinate, systematic and efficient way.
Thank you very much.
