A Memorandum of Cooperation – Programme Agreement between the Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media and the Ministry of National Defence was signed on 22 March 2019. The Memorandum was signed by the Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media Nikos Pappas and the Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis.

The Alternate Minister of National Defence Panagiotis Rigas, the Chief of HNDGS General Christos Christodoulou, the Chief of HAGS Lieutenant General Georgios Kambas, the Chief of HNGS Vice Admiral Nikolaos Tsounis, the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Georgios Blioumis, the Secretary General of Communications and Post Offices Vassilis Maglaras and the Managing Director of the Hellenic Space Agency Commander Georgios Mantzouris attended the signing ceremony which took place at the Ministry of National Defence.

This Memorandum establishes and extends the cooperation of the two Ministries in the field of space, aiming to:

                   The increase of the country’s capabilities in the field of defence.

                     Utilisation of all the Public Sector’s available resources, in the most integrated fashion.

                     Increase of the planning, production and utilisation capability of space systems and applications in Greece.

                     Establishment and utilisation of national infrastructures in the field of space.

The Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis addressed the attendees, noting the following:

 “First of all I would like to welcome you to the Ministry of National Defence.

I am really glad that all of us are here today to ratify the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media and the Ministry of National Defence, in the field of space.

Today we attest this fine and multilevel cooperation, which lends us a momentum which is already manifesting itself in the form of multiple benefits.

Furthermore, today we declare in practice the intention of the two Ministries to extend this cooperation. With the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation, I am certain that the already constructive cooperation and interaction of the two Ministries, will be further extended and enhanced.

We declare our volition to cooperate and jointly shape a bedrock of cutting-edge technology in the field of space and elsewhere.

It is a common goal which helps us achieve our national strategic goals and which can be materialised through the utilisation of the resources and capabilities at our disposal.

Besides, things could not be different.

They are imposed by the modern international geopolitical environment. They are imposed by this environment because it is characterised by changes in the international distribution of power, the strategic antagonisms and the rapid developments.

All kinds of developments:  political, social, financial and technological.

The rapid evolution of technology does not allow us to simply observe the developments.

To make the achievement of the country’s strategic options and the satisfaction of our national interests feasible, we must be able, not only to monitor the technological advancements, but also to jointly shape them.

For the Ministry of National Defence, the monitoring of technological advancements constitutes a pressing requirement and priority. And this is not the end. We strive for outreach, utilising new technologies and modernising our materials and methods. The operational utilisation of technological innovation is essential for us, because it lends us military superiority.

The recent launch of the Hellas Sat 4 telecommunications satellite constitutes the capstone of this field, giving Greece the capability to have a strong place in the international space setting, providing high-level satellite services wherever required.

At the same time, it will provide to the Hellenic Armed Forces self-sufficiency as well as absolutely reliable satellite communications, noticeably upgrading our capabilities in this field.

This is the way forward.

Minister,

Fully aware that the use of space is of vital importance for the National Defence as well as for the Country itself, since it provides us essential strategic advantages, I would like to assure you that we vehemently support this national effort.

Your Ministry strives to enhance and upgrade Greece’s role in the international space and technological setting, in general.

It is an effort on which I wish to congratulate you and thank you, and of course, to congratulate you on all your achievements in general.

We will assist and be at your side in every step of this effort.

We are all optimistic regarding the fruits of this cooperation.

Thank you”.

The Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media Nikos Pappas stressed the following in his address:

“I would like to thank the Minister of National Defence for our cooperation which gives us the capability to sign today this particular agreement, having however materialised essential parts of synergies which enhance our country’s overall stature.

After the efforts made in recent years, a long and filled with obstacles journey comes to an end, regarding the securing of our Country’s sovereign rights in Space.

With the signing of this Memorandum of Cooperation we are turning a new page to the materialisation of dual use applications and the utilisation of the sum of space applications by the Hellenic State with a clear priority to the country’s defence. 

With the establishment of the Hellenic Space Agency we will henceforth have the capability to coordinate all actions (Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media and Ministry of National Defence) under the same umbrella, which will pertain to the country’s defence for the benefit of its citizens. 

Greece constitutes a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans and henceforth it will be feasible to secure this stability through our national satellite communications but also through all the other activities scheduled for materialisation in the immediate future, through this Memorandum of Cooperation.

I thank all those who worked hard for the materialisation of this endeavour and I urge us to make the same effort in the future for the materialisation of the set goals which will benefit the sum of our country’s infrastructures’’.