“At the election of 7 July 2019, the Greek people gave a clear and powerful mandate to New Democracy and to the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to work for and build a strong Greece.

The Greece of normality, stability, growth, and prosperity.

This is the only way to restore our country to the place it deserves in order to regain its international prestige and become established in the geopolitical environment as a reliable, strong power that promotes security and cooperation in the broader region.

After 4.5 years of SYRIZA/ANEL government, the stakes to return to normality are high.

But I believe that we can do this; and this belief comes from the strong political will and a genuine, deeply democratic patriotism which I can assure you characterises both the government, as well as the Parliamentary Group of New Democracy.

So, being fully aware of this critical mission, I undertake the responsibility of the political leadership of the Armed Forces assigned to me by the country’s Prime Minister. It is a great honour.

And I’d like to assure the Hellenic Parliament that both myself, as well as the Deputy Minister, Mr. Stefanis here, are fully aware of the holy duty we undertake so that the country’s Armed Forces can execute their mission and all Greeks feel secure.

Our country is situated in the dynamic geopolitical and geoeconomic environment of Southeast Europe and East Mediterranean, which is home to almost all modern security challenges.

Broader security challenges seen at global and regional level are added to this complex and fluid environment, with a potential impact on our country.

Voluntary and involuntary large scale movements of people, illegal migration, terrorist actions, and the rise of extreme religious fundamentalism, trafficking of all kind, particularly human trafficking, the yet unresolved and in any case very difficult to be resolved Middle Eastern issue, fierce competition to exploit natural resources, mainly hydrocarbons, climate change, which recently started affecting our country, organised and internationalised crime, and cyberthreats are only a few of the modern challenges requiring our full attention, since they can impact our country’s security.

And, since I’m talking about challenges, this brings me to our relations with our neighbour, Turkey, and the developments in the Southeast Mediterranean.

It is self-evident, ladies and gentlemen, Members of Parliament, that we can not and will not tolerate violations that directly challenge our territorial integrity, our sovereign rights, and the responsibilities deriving from international conventions and international organisation decisions.

The Ministry of National Defence closely monitors Turkey’s actions and behaviour in the broader region of the East Mediterranean, a behaviour that deeply concerns us, as it also concerns the countries of the European Union and other countries who are watching Turkey’s illegal and abusive actions within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus, i.e. a European Union member state.

We, Greece, unequivocally stand beside Cyprus.

We seek peace and good neighbourly relations while respecting national sovereign rights and International Law.

We do not provoke, but we also do not like being provoked. We do not lower our guard, we stay alert. Our composure and focus on peaceful resolution of inter-state disputes should not be perceived as weakness.

We believe that the creation and escalation of tension is not to the benefit of either country, nor does it contribute to the promotion of security and cooperation in an already very troubled region.

We would obviously wish that our relations with Turkey enter a new, different phase in a way that ensures stability in our region.

But this is not just up to us.

As Ministry of National Defence, we will seek to maintain a communication channel with Turkey, mainly through the implementation of activities within the framework of the implementation of Confidence-Building Measures.

We really hope that Turkey wishes the same. We await tangible proof of its intentions, but unfortunately we haven’t seen any yet.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of Parliament,

The Ministry of National Defence structures its political priorities in five main pillars which serve the Prime Minister’s and the Government’s strategic choice for our country’s security:

FIRST PILLAR

Ensuring sufficient defence equipment. Particular emphasis will be laid on technological superiority and the use of modern information systems and command systems.

Our goal is to implement targeted armament programmes that have already been identified by the leadership of the Armed Forces and are processed based on short-, medium-, and long-term priorities.

This overall planning will ensure the maintenance and gradually the enhancement of the deterrent power, combat effectiveness, and readiness of the country’s Armed Forces. It is structured on two levels:

First level: Upgrade and support of the main Army, Navy, and Air Force weapon systems according to the needs, planning and priorities we jointly set with the Military Leadership.

Second level: acquisition of weapon systems to upgrade the operational capabilities and readiness of all three Services of the Armed Forces. Here, we are talking about a level of more specific, but also more direct interventions.

SECOND PILLAR

Reorganisation of the structure of the Armed Forces. This pillar aims at increasing the availability of personnel by reinforcing necessary military personnel, as well as at establishing an objective, fixed career advancement framework and evaluation system in order to ensure the meritocratic career advancement of the personnel.

THIRD PILLAR

Modernisation of the existing legal framework. Our main intervention will be the amendment of the law on Armed Forces procurements, of the entire legal framework, in order to ensure, on one hand, the necessary transparency, without the pretence of false transparency, and, on the other hand, the necessary flexibility of the procurement system across the Armed Forces.

FOURTH PILLAR

Reinforcement of the domestic defence industry as a vital element for the security of supply and the maintenance of the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

This reinforcement will be achieved by encouraging partnerships of our defence industry with the private sector and supporting defence research and technology, in cooperation with the country’s Universities and research foundations. I would say that this is a pillar of critical strategic importance and perspective for the country.

FIFTH PILLAR

Upgrade of military training. I am referring both to actions to use the military service to acquire competitive qualifications even for the job market and the entry to it for enlisted personnel and the development of critical skills to this end, as well as the reinforcement of the cooperation of the Higher Military Education Institutions and Academies with the country’s Universities to make use of the accumulated scientific knowledge and experience of think tanks, as well as with similar foreign academies, within the framework of international cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Ministry of National Defence’s policies will be fully in line with the government’s broader strategic choices, as they are expressed by the Prime Minister’s guidelines.

The Ministry supports and seeks synergies and coordinated initiatives with other ministries, within the framework of the comprehensive approach that characterises government work.

Indicatively, regarding the Strategic Choice to Reinforce Greece in a changing world, for example, the Ministry aims at promoting and enhancing Defence Diplomacy as a main soft power tool, thus reinforcing the country’s overall diplomacy.

Armed Forces Officers already have a strong presence at the level of international organizations, bilateral and multilateral cooperations, particularly in terms of the strategic cooperation relations with Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt, as well as other states in the broader region of the Balkans and Southeast Mediterranean. This will continue and be further enhanced.

Regarding the Strategic Choice for Quality Public Health for all Greeks, the Ministry of National Defence will contribute to Public Health, as it already does, by optimizing the services provided by Military Hospitals and providing Military Doctors for Social Actions.

A few days ago, on my first day as Minister, a military doctor was provided to the Acropolis.

Emphasis will be laid on providing healthcare services to border and remote areas, as well as on rapid response to health emergencies; just yesterday, a military helicopter flew on yet another mission to evacuate a patient from a border island to a city hospital.

Moreover, regarding the Strategic Choice to Utilise Real Estate, we aim at the optimum utilization of the Ministry’s assets by reinforcing and simplifying the role of the National Defence Fund through the rational management of its assets.

Our goal is to increase the funds available for the country’s defence and part of this scheme is also the optimisation of the operation of the Armed Forces Real Estate Utilisation Authority so that the Ministry of National Defence can act, among others, as a development arm contributing to the national effort.

Finally, regarding the Strategic Choice for Environmental Protection, adaptation to climate change, and sustainable development, we aim at upgrading the Environmental Policy through emphasis on the energy upgrade and autonomy of Armed Forces infrastructure, the discontinuation of dirty energy sources, and the adoption of best practices in waste management.

Besides, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of Parliament,

it is well known that the mission of the Armed Forces is not just their operational work.

The Armed Forces, with a strong sense of responsibility and sensitivity, contribute to society with a multifaceted work, forging bonds with the various social groups.

They undertake numerous actions to assist other state authorities and become more closely connected to society.

As a Government, we aim at increasing direct cooperation actions with Civil Protection for its upgraded role, such as Search and Rescue, Aeromedical Evacuations, Aerial Forest Firefighting and Protection, dealing with natural disasters at national level, in cooperation with the other competent Ministries.

A few days ago, again a few hours after taking office, the new response times and efficiencies could be seen during the relief efforts after the storm in Halkidiki.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, the Armed Forces stand beside society, because their personnel is part of society.

So, to say a few things about this personnel, I’d like to stress that we are particularly proud of them. The men and women of the Armed Forces act with dedication, dignity, a paramount sense of duty, professionalism.

Besides, the qualitative superiority of our personnel is what ensures the very deterrent power of our Armed Forces and that’s why it is our duty to stand beside them.

To this end, we are planning a series of social measures to deal with matters related to the everyday life of the personnel and their families, their living conditions and the improvement of their living standards, in a safe, modern, as well as special and, in any case, unique working environment.

At the same time, special mention should be made to and special care should be taken of the Retired personnel, Reservists, and National Guardsmen. They are Greek patriots who served or continue to serve with dedication and a sense of responsibility in the Armed Forces and, through them, Greece.

This overall excellent behaviour of the Armed Forces personnel, despite the recent difficult fiscal situation, is acknowledged and praised and we are going to show our respect to the Armed Forces personnel with actions through the implementation of our programme.

Finally, our highest priority with regard to what I said is transparency and accountability concerning the management of public funds provided for the upgrade and modernisation of the Armed Forces. We want every Greek citizen to know where every Euro spent for Defence goes and these expenditures, whenever and for whatever they are made, will totally respect what little resources the Greek taxpayer could spare to provide us.

In conclusion, we aim at modern, strong, and combat ready Armed Forces, with great deterrent power; we act dynamically now to shape the future in the best way possible, not following developments, but shaping them.

This effort has always been constant and intensive, it now just becomes even more intensive.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of Parliament,

Like in every country that respects itself and has to deal with security challenges, we, as the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, have the critical patriotic duty to take care of the sword.

Greece’s sword is its Armed Forces. They are the sword’s mighty cutting edge. And even if during peaceful times the sword is in its scabbard, in troubled times, when the hand reaches for the hilt, the sword must be sharp and shiny.

I really wish that the hand rests on the hilt and the sword in its scabbard.

We do not like war, but we can’t be carefree either.

That’s why my concern, together with the rest of the Ministry’s political and the military leadership, is that Greece’s sword, this sword is as I described before.

This is our job, this is our duty, to make every effort possible, with all our powers, at any cost, to keep the sword’s cutting edge mighty.

Thank you”.