P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: I would like to thank the Alternate Finance Minister, my dear friend Mr. Christos Staikouras, for being this Saturday here with us, so as to make this first meeting with the Chiefs of the General Staffs, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff and the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, as well as the two Deputy Ministers who are here with us, Mister Karambelas and Mister Elefsiniotis, the Staff Officers, the personnel qualified for the financial issues in the Ministry of National Defence, in order to discuss budget issues of our Ministry.

We know that it is a difficult circumstance for our country. We know that the Hellenic people, therefore the Armed Forces as well, since they are a part of Hellenic society, make extreme sacrifices. We all make extreme sacrifices, so as to run through the Scylla and Charybdis we are currently in.

Our first priority, dean friend Christos, Alternate Finance Minister, is to be able to save funds, provided that this will not harm in any way the effectiveness of the Armed Forces.

As a matter of fact, we believe that we must reinforce the Armed Forces’ deterrent power; to reinforce their operational readiness, but also their morale and spirit.

As I said before, all those currently serving in the Armed Forces have experienced, as part of Hellenic society, extreme sacrifices. There are many families of men and women serving in the Armed Forces who, undergoing these sacrifices – especially those who were granted a housing loan – face a direct problem every month.

Obviously, under no circumstances should this situation be confused with their devotion to their duty. They are even more devoted to their duty, to performing the mission assigned to them by the Hellenic people and the Constitution of the Hellenic Democratic State.

We welcome you to this meeting. We know that few hours ago you were in Brussels, at this critical Summit, accompanying the President of the Hellenic Republic, and you came back late last night.

C. STAIKOURAS: I would like to thank the Minister for the invitation he sent me, to come here with my partners and meet with the Ministry’s political leadership and the Chiefs of the General Staffs and the cadres, have a first meeting and discuss the Ministry’s budget issues.

It is the first meeting I have as Alternate Minister with any Ministry for budget issues. This demonstrates its imminent and crucial character, as well as the Ministry’s and the political leadership’s will to examine from the very beginning these issues, in the most rational possible way.

It is a fact that the implementation of the budget presents significant difficulties, as far as both incomes and expenses are concerned. Recession and unemployment have aggravated the situation.

It is also a fact that recently, trying to avoid further pension reduction, a cut was performed in various Ministries, among which the Ministry I have the pleasure and honour of visiting today. Moreover, the numerous significant unresolved problems this Ministry is facing are also a fact.

Our will, given the inadequacy of funds, is to help the Ministry as much as we can. I already have some internal memos by my services, for a more rationalized allocation of funds.

There is an intention to help this Ministry and maintain the efficiency of our Armed Forces.