The Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos visited yesterday the Headquarters of the A’ Army in the city of Larissa, as well as the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command (HTAF) and the 110 Combat Wing, in the same city. Afterwards, he visited the combat aircraft squadrons of the 111 Combat Wings at Nea Anchialos-Magnissia.
The Minister of National Defence received briefings at each destination by the leadership of the Headquarters and the local Commanders on matters of pertinence, and he also had meetings and personal discussions with a wide group of F16 combat aircraft pilots at the 110 Combat Wing in Larissa and at the 111 Combat Wing in Nea Anchialos.
During his visit, he was accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General M. Kostarakos, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General K. Ziazias and the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General (AF) A. Tsantirakis.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos in his address to the Units’ personnel pointed out among others:
“Our people and our country currently experience and are found suffering by the circumstances of an unusual financial war. This war is not similar to those conducted in the past. It has no military operations. It is a financial war. It has its own character and particularity, yet it causes suffering, it creates victims, it induces problems for the country and the Hellenic people.
This is the 100th year after the Balkan Wars of 1912, during which the small – at the time – Greece, in spite of the serious defeat in 1897 that had preceded, managed not only to upturn, but to win and double its land.
In the same way, under different circumstances, in another war this time, I believe that we can win once more, we can recover, we can reform, we can come forth…
… As far as economy is concerned, we have an uphill way ahead, but if we are united, given that we are in accord, given that the country will appear in Brussels with a national salvage plan, composed, studied, immediately implementable, which will combine measures for fiscal discipline, brave and compulsory reforms with measures for growth and social coherence, then I could say that yes, we shall win this bet.
This is what has been planned by the Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and all the political forces that support this government of national salvation. A government of National Salvation which, notwithstanding whom it will receive a vote of confidence from the day after tomorrow in the Parliament, it will embrace the entire Hellenic people, all Greeks, men and women, without exceptions…
I would like to assure you that at the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence you have people who think of you, who honour you, who respect and have you at their heart. They comprehend the burden you and your families lift during this difficult circumstance, when our country is going between Scylla and Charybdis.
I will not give away promises, I will not tell you “we will do this, we will do that”. Let me work for you, strive for you and, with the Prime Minister and the co-pertinent Ministers, along with the entire Hellenic Parliament and of course your leadership, to achieve a positive step, month by month.
First of all, not to have further cuts. Fight for this and win. Stabilize this first, since it is our first priority. After that, we will slowly try to restore step by step what has been lost until today, from the moment our economy will begin to recover.
Since the very first moment, I have ordered to pay special attention to rendering of social contribution. I mean the reinforcement of social infrastructure, the infrastructure of social protection to the entire Armed Forces’ system. So as to be able to accommodate more families; so that you and your families will not be surcharged with accommodation expenses.
To be able to have meals for more people. So that the families can save money for the children, for their studies or for the family’s other needs…
…You know that as nation we have gone through the hammer and the anvil of History. Not once but numerous times they have threatened to work as millstones and grind us. Yet they didn’t accomplish it.
They will prove that the Hellenic people resist to the trials of History and overcome them. Yes, mistakes have been made, omissions were effected, there is accountability; yet we can recover, we can reform.
Keep your pride intact, keep your heads up. Maintain the efficiency and operational readiness of our Armed Forces. The best of luck to all”.
