I would like to say that the country’s armament programmes are not a subject that can be revealed – neither as a whole, nor in details. As editors of the MOD’s reportage, you do realise, especially the most experienced among you, that the decisions on the armament programmes are not made with brief, secret procedures, as the case was in the past, but in line with the predicted procedures by the regulation of the Parliament, with all the predicted meetings of the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence and the Armaments Parliamentary Committee for the procurements, and they are the only ones valid.

However, since questions have been raised, in this press conference we shall answer all the questions that must and can be answered.

I would like to inform you that at the last meeting of the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence, two issues were discussed: the F-16 upgrade and the C-27 follow-on support. As far as the C-27 follow-on support is concerned, we reached the final decision for a disengagement by the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence, so that the procedure can move on. As far as the F-16 upgrade is concerned, after the negotiations with the DGGIA and with the Hellenic Air Force afterwards – the negotiation is still ongoing – the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence and the Hellenic Parliament established the following:

The F-16 upgrade programme, requested by the Hellenic Air Force, is approved by the Hellenic Government and the Hellenic Parliament.

As far as the amount of money necessary for this programme is concerned, the final programme will be within the framework agreed upon, namely 1.1 bil. A board of 1.23 bil. has been issued, which is correct, yet there is a discount of approximately 10-15%, also applied in previous programmes, which results to the amount of 1.1 bil.

The total amount has been approved. However, regarding the payments, Greece engaged to the creditors to achieve a specific surplus demanded by the European Union and the IMF, until 2021.

Therefore, when our creditors demand from us to remain to the surplus agreed upon, it is not possible to also pull off the NATO agreement concerning armament programmes beyond 2%, and reach the 20% that NATO wants for the annual growth; we should follow the rules concerning our fiscal policy, we have engaged to.

Consequently, at this point, the negotiation with the US side discusses the payment of the costs referring to 2018, 2019 and 2020; after 2021, when we will no longer be engaged, we may disburse parts of the agreement, until the expiration of the programme.

At this point, I would like to remind that the first aircraft will be produced in two years and the programme will end in 2028. As you can understand, with the particular financial circumstances, a front-loaded programme is impossible.  

In this framework, the Prime Minister’s diplomatic advisor Mr. Kalpadakis informed the US Ambassador, and today I will brief my counterpart for the forth time, as three letters concerning the payments have already been sent. Following the Hellenic Air Force’s demand, it is the wish of the Greek Government and the Ministry of National Defence to implement this programme, within our capabilities of course. No Minister can engage budgets he does not possess and, of course, the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence cannot contravene what was agreed upon by the financial group.

As various things on other programmes have been heard, the programmes in force are the ones you know about, and which have been included by the procedure provided by the regulation of the Hellenic Parliament for the Armaments Committee, and have been discussed by the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence.  

Regarding the article of the newspaper “Kathimerini” concerning the frigates, it included some details which were not known to anyone; not even me. What we know about the frigates is that there was an old programme with the French side, ever since Evaggelos Meimarakis was Minister, because the truth is that the Hellenic Navy needs new vessels.

Nonetheless, this project did not progress, due to the existing financial problems. At a very high level, and by that I mean the discussions held between President Macron and PM Alexis Tsipras, a possibility was discussed: to use the French share of the sum of 8 bil., that the European countries owe to Greece due to a difference in bonds, so as to achieve a synergy for the construction of the frigates in Greece.

This was the only discussion and negotiation made concerning the frigates, at which President Macron had a positive attitude towards our Prime Minister in general, as far as the possibility to support Greece and the potential synergies in our defence industry are concerned.

In this framework, all possible capabilities will be examined, beginning at PM-President Macron level, and at the same time, the General Staffs will prepare whatever is necessary at defence level. When the time comes to decide upon such a programme, all the procedures provided in the Constitution and the Regulation of the Parliament will be followed, starting from the Hellenic Navy’s demand.

This is how things are, as far as the armament programmes are concerned. At the last Armaments Committee meeting, due to the escalation and the crisis we face from Turkey, with all its verbal aggression and recent events, we asked to examine the possibility to carry out faster some of the ongoing programmes, if needed. Naturally, everything will be done according to the procedures provided by the law and the Parliament, and this was something that the Opposition accepted. The overall impression at the last meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee was that consensus was achieved and we all wanted to form a national position.

The national, common position of all the political parties against national issues is the same with the one pursued by the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence. I would like to state publicly that we are at the disposal of all political parties, for continuous briefing. However, public statements and attempts to manipulate the issues concerning the armaments and national defence could only damage the country’s national position.

Therefore, our aim will be to achieve dialogue and perform briefings; however I would like to ask for a solid national position on matters of defence and armament programmes.

We are very pleased that President Erdogan’s last statement referred to his wish for a peaceful coexistence. This is also our own aspiration, and we will do whatever is needed towards this end. Nonetheless, the exact observance of mutual agreements and international law, the respect of the borders, the acceptance of national sovereignty and of the neighbouring friendly countries’ borderline are a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence.

Greece threatens no one, nor does it violate foreign lands; it peacefully tries to build the two countries’ future in an environment of peace and growth, needed by both peoples. However, we are not willing to back away to the threats, not even by one millimetre.

I would like to conclude, before giving the floor to you, by saying once more that the two Hellenic Armed Forces’ personnel are currently hostages in the Turkish prison of Andrianoupolis. Unfortunately, after hearing President Erdogan at his last interview referring to an exchange, I was confirmed. If President Erdogan really desires peace between the peoples and a peaceful coexistence, the only action that might instantly help towards this direction is the immediate release of the two Greek servicemen, who are currently detained without an indictment, just like pastor Brunson, the exchange of whom Turkey has asked from the United States”.