The Alternate Minister of National Defence, Panagiotis Rigas, accompanied by the Chief HAGS, Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis, visited this Friday, September 7th 2018, the headquarters of the D’ Army Corps in Xanthi and military Units in Thrace.

The Alternate Minister of National Defence, while being briefed at the D’ Army Corps, had a meeting with and addressed the personnel of the Surveillance Outpost of the Greek-Turkish borders via VTC-HARP.

Furthermore, he toured the construction areas of 8 new Officers’ Quarters, the old Command Post of the 25 Signals Company and the Headquarters Company/XXV Armoured Brigade and the recreation park under construction in the courtyard of the new Officers’ Quarters. He visited the Day Nursery, as well as the Branch for People with Disabilities in Xanthi. Then, he visited the headquarters of XXV Armoured Brigade and attended a tank demonstration including live fire. Tomorrow, Saturday, the Alternate Minister will attend the opening of the pavilion of the Armed Forces at the Thessaloniki International Fair.

Addressing to the personnel of the D’ Army Corps and referring to the Formation’s role and mission, he stated the following:

“The area of responsibility of the C’ Army Corps constitutes an integral part of our country’s defence web and a crucial factor for the operational planning of the Armed Forces. You are the point of the arrow head of our country’s defence, covering the outermost region of Thrace.

Thrace is a region that merits particular attention and has significant potential to upgrade to a transit, commercial and energy point, with reference and footprint in the entire Balkan region and southeastern Europe. To serve as a platform of connection and energy transport from the East to the West, but also transport from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.”

Regarding the social contribution of the Armed Forces, he stressed the following:

“Greek society itself acknowledges that your contribution does not only consist in honouring your role as a defender of the country’s territorial integrity and independence, but also in the everyday life of each Greek citizen, since you are standing next to him whenever necessary.

The Armed Forces, along with their key mission, constitute a main source of provision of social work. They are standing next to Greek citizens and by a number of actions, they contribute to search and rescue, air evacuation, the prevention and fighting of forest fires, the health support of citizens living in outermost regions, voluntary blood donation, the dealing with the consequences of natural disasters, the construction of minor technical works and to the provision of any kind of assistance whatsoever to fellow citizens in need.”

Referring to the threats that the Armed Forces are being asked to deal with and their contribution in general to the country’s recovery, he underlined the following:

“As we have already said on several occasions, national laws, the implementation of international treaties, such as the Treaty of Lausanne, and the compliance with International Law are not-negotiable for us.

Those who are scheming against the rights of our Country should be aware that we are going to be worthy of our ancestors’ self-sacrifice, but also our debt to the nation. Let me repeat what I said yesterday, during my meeting with the members of the Armed Forces serving at the C’ Army Corps in Thessaloniki.

Namely that the readiness, the high spirits and the strengthening of the deterrent effect of the Greek Armed Forces throughout this difficult period that our country has experienced in recent years, played an important – probably not prominent – role in the effort for the final exit from the memoranda and the crisis.

At a time when our economic freedom and independence have been so sorely tried, all the personnel of the Armed Forces proved equal to the occasion and even better, by not allowing any third player even to imagine how to undermine our sovereign rights.”

The Alternate Minister, while making statements to the journalists in Xanthi, stated amongst other the following:

Regarding the work of the Armed Forces:

“Our Army forms part of the Greek Society; it may and should support it and has done so on multiple levels. Besides, that sets an example to us, so that we would be more effective.

The manner in which the Armed Forces implement the decisions of the political leadership is to our credit and to the credit of the Chief HAGS and both Chiefs of both Army Corps, Mr. Kambas and Mr. Bikos. What I saw in the D’ Army Corps is a particular honour for me, because apart from the readiness of the Armed Forces, there is also an enormous offer of honour that is very important to us and assists with the consolidation of security in the region. I am pleased with our Armed Forces, which throughout the period of crisis, were based on and supported the effort that we made to find a way out of the impasse of supervision and memoranda. Security is the key to the area; an area where peace and economic development is a priority”.

Regarding the repayment with retrospective effect of the amounts owed to members of the Armed Forces:

“The Prime Minister will make announcements. In this context, I believe that he will make an announcement about the support of Greek servicemen. The measures involve the entire society. After exiting from the memoranda and supervision, it is time for Greek people to reap the benefits of their struggles. Because the society has supported us; it supported this effort. So, we are reimbursing the amount that we managed to have as a surplus. The evidence indicates that development is now proceeding apace compared to preceding years; I believe that tomorrow is another day”.

Regarding pensions:

“The issue of pensions falls within the framework of the struggle that we have fought. We now believe it is no longer necessary, there is no reason to make cuts in pensions. Tomorrow is another day. We go further and upon the expiry of the Government’s term of office, all will be judged.”