P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: It is a great pleasure and honour for me as new Minister of Defence to begin my visits to the Hellenic Armed Forces’ Headquarters by the city of Larissa.
I am here to visit the Headquarters of the A’ Army. I was briefed by the chain of command and the staff Officers.
My second visit took place at the Headquarters of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command, where I also had the chance of receiving an excellent briefing by the Chief and the Staff Officers; my visit continues with the National Air Operations Centre and Squadrons of combat aircraft which park here.
At the airport of Anchialos, where I will have the chance, besides the briefing and the discussions with the Commanders, to have a coffee, some humane moments with the youth of the Hellenic people, our pilots who make us proud and make us feel more secure with their everyday flights over the Aegean.
I would like to thank the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff and the other Chiefs who accompany me at these visits and to make clear that, as I have already said since the first moment, my aspiration as new political leader of the country’s Armed Forces, as Minister of National Defence, the financial crisis should not become a crisis of national sovereignty and national security, and it should also not offend issues of national independence and national integrity.
For this reason I believe in the Armed Forces. I have great appreciation and respect for the men and women who serve in them, from the highest in the chain of command, from the officers and NCOs to all the soldiers serving in all three branches, the children of the Hellenic people, our children.
As Government, we know and we respect the fact that the Armed Forces, as an exceptional part of the Hellenic people, have experienced painful, extreme sacrifices, and that the men and women serving in the Armed Forces, along with their families, are experiencing a tough everyday reality.
I consider self-evident – and I say it feeling full certitude – that they have disconnected these problems which were caused by the horizontal cuts, from the need to perform their duty in the best possible way and according to the oath they have taken to the country, to the Nation, to the Constitution.
On the other hand, it is the State’s duty, it is the Government’s duty to do their best so as to make their everyday life a little less harder, so as to offer as much as possible, and from the moment the Greek economy will begin its improvement, to offer the best we can in order to facilitate their mission.
As I made clear during the meetings, we have them at heart, we love them, we honour them and we respect them. I refer to all those serving in any way, at any rank, from the leadership to the most distant NCO and soldier, to all the people serving in the Hellenic Armed Forces.
Thank you very much.
JOURNALIST: Mister Minister, does this also apply to the civilian personnel in the Ministry of National Defence?
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Of course it applies to the civilian personnel. I had the chance here, in the framework of my visit to the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command, to meet the trade union of the civilian personnel, and I also had the chance to meet the committees, the presidents of the Retired Officers Associations in the Prefecture of Larissa, have a thorough discussion on their problems and put our cooperation in the right course, that will allow us to reach some results as we go.
JOURNALIST: Mister Minister, will we have Officers’ evaluations during the summer or later?
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: Look, things will proceed according to the law. I couldn’t reveal something else right now. In the following weeks, I will be able to tell you much more.
In any case, as political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, we will go ahead according to the laws. Thank you very much.
