Below is the interview given by the Alternate Minister of National Defence, Dimitris Vitsas, to the journalist Sofia Liakou, which is published in today’s “AXIA NEWS” (22/07/2017):

Q: In your opinion, what should be the next steps after the return to markets in order to return to growth?

A: The return to markets is a process that marks the country’s exit from the vicious circle of depression, as well as the return to a growth trajectory. The next steps will not come after the return to markets, they are already taking place. I am talking about reducing unemployment while at the same time respecting labour rights, kick-starting investment, and returning to normality. Being freed from guardianship is now an imminent and tangible goal.

The roadmap of this path is shaped by certain goals: focus on real economy, stability of the banking system, motive system for the development of social economy. The crisis has led us to realise that we must speak of, and act within the framework of, a new economy mix and build a new social state. This is a social priority.
It is a fact that growth may start by securing a few prerequisites that have a positive psychological effect, but must lead to certain and quantifiable results which, for us, must return to society. The end goal is not a return to a “prosperity” based on borrowed money, but the improvement of the everyday life of citizens, with security and stability, through the production of new values and fair distribution.

Q: What is your opinion on Fofi Gennimata’s decision to reject Al. Tsipras’ invitation, while at the same time keeping an open channel with New Democracy, since Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the Democratic Coalition conference?

A: It seems that Ms. Gennimata has been trapped in the commitments of the area she represents, as well as in the strategy of right social democracy, which has been identified with extreme neoliberalism. Has she made her final choices? We’ll see. Speaking of an “alternative progressive proposal” or a “progressive government” is clearly a false pretense in order to hide her strategic alliance with the conservative party, expecting in return a share in power. I think she chooses based on burdens of the past. I can’t explain otherwise her fury against SYRIZA and the government, her choice for a different stance against the majority of the European social democracy, and her selective oblivion, forgetting that the dismantlement of the country’s manufacturing base, the sowing of the seeds of corruption, and the destructive MoUs were choices made by neoliberal PASOK.

Q: Why do you think New Democracy targets Panos Kammenos, who is also your Minister of National Defence?

A: New Democracy has failed in its elections narrative promoted previously, found itself in a dead end and, in order to keep its opposition engines running, started a war of attrition on the government. It chose to target Panos Kammenos for the additional reason that it wants to lock in its party supporters. Soon it will come to realise that this strategy is a dead end and will look for alternative scenarios. One benefit from this situation is that it exposes the nakedness of New Democracy. This is proven by the fact that it does not have one creative, new proposal to make. Mr. Mitsotakis keeps repeating his feats as a minister, layoffs and less state, i.e. even deeper cuts in health, education, and welfare, while at the same time embracing the most conservative right wing of his party.

Q: This year, the Turkish provocativeness has exceeded all limits, while Mr. Erdoğan keeps escalating his rhetoric.

A: Turkish provocativeness is not something new. It has always had its ups and lows. However, international actors have started to set limits to Turkish provocativeness by abiding by international law. Limits are also set by our own resolve to defend the country’s sovereign rights through the deterrent power of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The combination of resolve and self-control of our actions is a stabilising factor, not only at the level of Hellenic – Turkish relations, but also at the broader regional level. The limits are set by the fact that the Hellenic border is also the European border.
Mr. Erdoğan does indeed escalate his rhetoric, but now this is a matter of the international community. To us, this is a development that does not go by unseen and unexploited. Verbal escalations and blustering often take place as a statement of presence or a cry marking the dead end to which our neighbour has come as a result of its choices. Nonetheless, we do not lower our guard. Especially in the Armed Forces, there is readiness and self-control, based on the confidence provided to us by the operational competence and the high morale of their people.

Q: Drilling has started in the Cypriot EEZ. What should Greece’s position be?

A: Drilling in the Cypriot EEZ is the exercising of a sovereign right by a sovereign state. The broader framework, with the involvement of major states and large companies, is a de facto wall protecting the exercise of the Republic of Cyprus’ rights. Greece’s position has been and remains the abidance by International Law and the pursuit of peace without yielding any sovereign rights.
Hellenic – Cypriot relations remain close. Greece, as a government and political leadership, steadfastly supports the abidance by international law and supports the Republic of Cyprus in exercising its sovereign rights. We are well aware that Turkish provocativeness is a single system and any challenge against Cyprus is part of the broader revisionist policy of Turkey that includes Greece; in any case, however, this is unacceptable, even as a thought.