Today, Thursday 24 March 2022, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos and the French Minister of the Armed Forces Ms. Florence Parly signed the Agreement concerning the procurement of 3 “Belharra” frigates by the Hellenic Navy and six more “Rafale” type fighters, on board the “Georgios Averof” Battle Ship, at Marina, Flisvos.

The procurement contract of FDI HN Frigates was signed by the Director General of Defence Armaments and Investments, Vice Admiral (ret.) Mr. Aristeidis Alexopoulos, and, on behalf of France the President and CEO of the “Naval Group” Mr. Pierre Eric Pommellet and the CEO of MBDA Group, Mr. Eric Beranger.

The procurement contract of the new “Rafale” fighters was signed by the Director General of Defence Armaments and Investments of the Ministry of National Defence, Vice Admiral (ret.) Mr. Aristeidis Alexopoulos, the CEO of “Dassault Aviation” Mr. Eric Trappier and the CEO of MBDA Group Mr. Eric Beranger.

The signing ceremony was attended by the President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Chardalias, the ND MP-Member of the Permanent National Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee and chief Introducer of acquiring the new surface units of the HN, Mr. Dionysios Chatzidakis, HNDGS/Chief General Konstantinos Floros, HNGS/Chief Vice Admiral Stylianos Petrakis HN and HAFGS/Chief Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, HAGS/Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Georgios Kellis, representing HAGS/Chief.

In his address, Mr. Panagiotopoulos pointed out the following:

“It is a special honor and pleasure to welcome today, on board the “Georgios Averof” Battle Ship, the French Minister of the Armed Forces Ms. Florence Parly.

It is an emblematic warship for our Country’s and Navy’s history, which plays a decisive role in safeguarding our national independence and sovereignty, as well as in protecting our national rights. It is a warship which has made the difference in its time, regarding naval power and supremacy in the Aegean, a “game changer” ship as we might call it today.

For these reasons, the signing ceremony on board the “Georgios Averof” Battle Ship for the procurement of “Belharra” frigates and “Rafale” fighters which constitute a milestone in our bilateral defence cooperation and in a wider framework, in the relations between Greece and France, is of high symbolism.

The acquisition of these systems will contribute to further enhancing the HN and HAF combat and deterrent power and in total, the Armed Forces of the Country, the basic mission of whom is defending our country’s territorial integrity and sovereign rights.

We are really proud, since I am certain that never before the negotiations regarding such complex and extensive armament programs have been concluded so quickly and thoroughly. The participants of both sides are worthy of congratulations.

Through the acquisition of these new frigates and fighters, the fire power of the HN and the HAF shall be multiplied. The special features of “Belharra” and “Rafale” with their advanced electronic systems, in conjunction with their strategic type weapons, make these armament programs an important factor of air and sea supremacy.

At the same time, the acquisition of these new weapon systems by Greece provides the opportunity to the companies of the French defence industry to promote synergies with corresponding Greek ones, a cooperation which our countries must seek and implement, as provided for anyway in the Agreement for the establishment of a Strategic Partnership Relation in the Defence and Security Field between Greece and France.

This Agreement, which was signed last September, constitutes, as the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed out, a model for a future powerful, self-sufficient and self-reliant European Union. You understand that this perspective is more imperative than ever before, because it is time the EU’s financial power pairs with its defence capability, so that it turns from a relatively passive observer into an absolutely active protagonist in the geopolitical developments.

Furthermore, the choice of acquiring the “Belharra” frigates and the “Rafale” fighters stresses the strategic character of the Greek-French relations and France’s full support to our country, with regard to challenges and threats. It confirms a long lasting tradition of impeccable cooperation relations between our countries, both at a bilateral level and in the context of regional and international cooperations.

These relations especially now, following Russia’s attack against Ukraine, project the significance of the strategic partner cooperation between Greece and France and render it a decisive factor in the effort of the two countries to promote the implementation of their common vision, for the Europe of the Defence.

These relations aim at armoring the defence of the two countries against any revisionary action or ambition, like Russia’s actions against Ukraine, and safeguarding human life and welfare against threats that remind us dark periods of history.

They are relations that are based on solidarity and the strong, ever lasting friendship between our countries and people, already since the 1821 Greek Revolution, and the contribution of the French philhellenes and France as a Great Power, to the national struggle for freedom. It is a great honor and pleasure and also of utter importance I would add, that in tomorrow’s glorious celebration of the National Anniversary, the French Minister of the Armed Forces Ms. Florence Parly is to participate.

I would also like to point out that Madam Minister and I expressed our satisfaction regarding the high level of our bilateral defence relations and cooperation, which keep on broadening both at tactical and strategic level.

In a while, we will visit the French Aircraft Carrier “Charles de Gaulle”, which is anchored in Piraeus and will participate in “ENIOHOS-2022” Exercise over the following days, another important event, projecting the importance and magnitude of Greece-France cooperation.

It is a common will and decision of our Governments to contribute in the security, stability and welfare in the wider Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean region, mainly based upon the respect of International Law, International Law of the Seas rules and the Good Neighborliness Principles and at the same time projecting the strong deterrent imprint of our Armed Forces.

I am certain that our excellent cooperation will lead to the achievement of our common goals and objectives”.