The Deputy Minister of National Defence Alkiviadis Stefanis visited on Wednesday 19 February 2020 the NATO HQ in Brussels, and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.

Initially, the Deputy Minister of National Defence visited SHAPE, where he was received by the Greek Military Representative at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (MilRep/SHAPE), Lieutenant General (AF) Simeon Psimoulis. After being briefed by the MilRep/SHAPE, he had working meetings with the Deputy Supreme Allied Command Europe (D/SACEUR) General Sir James EVERARD, the D/SACEUR Strategic and International Affairs Advisor Mr. Stephen R. COVINGTON, the SHAPE Chief of Staff (COS) General Markus KNEIP, the Director of Comprehensive Crises and Operation Management Center (CCOMC) Air Commodore Jan Willem WESTERBEEK and the Deputy Commander of NATO Special Operation Forces Headquarters (D/COM NSHQ) Brigadier General Rob STEPHENSON.

Afterwards, he visited the NATO HQ, where he was received by the Greek Deputy Military Representative/ at the NATO Military Committee (MilRep/NATO MC) Captain Stylianos Dimopoulos (HN). He also met with the Deputy Secretary General (DSG) Mr. Mirces GEOAŇA and the Deputy Chairman Military Committee (DCMC) Lieutenant General Scott KINDSVATER. He also had a private meeting with the Ambassador Mr. Spyros Lambridis, Greece’s NATO Permanent Representative.

During the meetings, matters of mutual interest were discussed.

Finally, the Deputy Minister of National Defence met and discussed with the Greek military and civilian personnel serving in NATO and SHAPE. In addition, he paid tribute to the monument of Second Lieutenant (FMT) Ilias Apostolopoulos, in SHAPE.