Following an invitation extended by the Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos, the Leader of the Democratic Left Party (DIMAR) Mr. Fotis Kouvelis visited the Ministry of National Defence, accompanied by the Parliamentary representative, MP for Attica Mr. Vassilis Ekonomou and the  Party Spokesperson Ms. Mirsini Lionaraki, and was briefed on matters of the Ministry’s pertinence.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Ministers of National Defence Mr. Panaghiotis Karambelas and Mr. Dimitrios Elefsiniotis, the Special Secretary of the Ministry of National Defence Mr. Antonios Oikonomou, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Kosmas Christidis, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General (AF) Antonios Tsantirakis, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Konstantinos Gkinis and the Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Vice Admiral Evanghelos Apostolakis, representing the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Michail Kostarakos who was absent at a scheduled official visit to Albania.  

After the completion of the briefing, the Leader of the Democratic Left Party and the Minister of National Defence made the following statements:

P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: I would like to thank the Leader of the Democratic Left Party Mr. Fotis Kouvelis who, responding to our invitation, made us the honour and officially visited today the Ministry of National Defence; the heart and home of the Hellenic Armed Forces.

Mr. Kouvelis is always by the Armed Forces’, a special part of the Hellenic people, side.

We presented a thorough briefing on all matters of our Ministry’s pertinence, as well as on key National Issues.

I believe that, as it has happened in the past but also currently, in the same way the Armed forces and Ministry of National Defence will also have in the future the Leader’s of the Democratic Left Party Mr. Fotis Kouvelis support, who embraces the Armed Forces with love, respect and appreciation, especially during the hard times we are experiencing, those of budget cuts, during which however the Armed Forces have disengaged the problems possibly created by a difficult everyday life and are fully devoted to their duty and mission, entrusted to them by the State, the Nation and the Hellenic Republic’s Constitution.

I would like to thank you once more, Mister Chairman, for your support to the Armed Forces and for the visit you made here today.  

F. KOUVELIS: I would like to thank the Minister of National Defence Mr. Panagiotopoulos, as well as the leadership of the Armed Forces, for the briefing I was presented concerning the major issues, the country’s National matters.

We unreservedly support the Armed Forces who, despite the fact that they have undertaken a great burden due to the budget cuts imposed on the expenses relating to the Ministry of National Defence -and not only-, they continue with bravery and high spirit serving the country, Defence, the Greek people and society.

Mister Minister, our support is, and will always be, given.

P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Thank you very much.

F. KOUVELIS: Thank you too.