Following an invitation extended by his Greek counterpart, Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos, since October 2012, the Minister of Defence of France Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, made today an official visit to Athens.
This meeting was the chance for the two Ministers to discuss the pattern of bilateral military relations. Moreover, based on the “Pooling & Sharing” EU initiative, they looked into various alternative capabilities for cooperation, emphasizing on the areas of maritime surveillance, cyber defence, training, spare parts’ supply and weapon systems’ maintenance.
Following the strategic partnership agreement contracted in 2008, the two Ministers agreed on keeping on working towards the compilation of a defence agreement which will be the framework of the bilateral cooperation, particularly as far as the area of operational capabilities and the exchange of know-how relating to defence reform issues are concerned.
The two Ministers, in the context of this strategic relationship, decided to immediately form a Franco-Greek committee, consisted of staff officers from both Ministries. The committee will be assigned with the drawing up of an agreement for responding to the Armed Forces’ operational needs in the field of Naval Forces (particularly frigates) and the Hellenic Armed Forces’ operational armament maintenance.
In addition, they exchanged views on the international situation and the problems of the South-Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa. The French Defence Minister briefed on the situation in Mali and the international military presence there, as well as on the initiation of the European Union’s “EUTM Mali” mission, to which Greece contributes with the participation of four trainers.
The two Ministers stressed out that this particular action taken by the Europeans is an essential step towards forming “Europe of Defence” which they are both invited to strengthen.
The two Ministers also discussed the issue of preparing the European Council for December 2013 which will work on Defence issues, something that hadn’t taken place since 2008. Both Ministers perceive this Council as a great opportunity for the Europeans to take action in a particular way in this field, especially as far as matters relating to capabilities and industry are concerned.
The Minister of Defence of France Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian was accompanied by Ms. Julia Maris, Marketing, Development and External relations manager, Mr. Jean Loup Kuhn–Delforge, French Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Antoine Noguier, Director of the French Defence Ministry’s Military Council and the Colonel (AF) Christophe Giraud, Defence Attaché of the French Embassy to Greece.
The meeting of the two delegations was also attended by the following: the Deputy Ministers of Defence Mr. Panagiotis Karambelas and Mr. Dimitrios Elefsiniotis, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff Vice Admiral Kosmas Christidis, the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General (AF) Antonios Tsantirakis and the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Konstantinos Gkinis, the General Director of General Directorate for Defence Investments and Armaments Mr. Dimitris Georgiopoulos.
After the completion of their meeting, the Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos and the French Defence Minister Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian made the following statements:
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: I would like to welcome to Greece and particularly at the Ministry of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic, a good friend of Greece and my personal friend, the Minister of Defence of the French Republic Mr. Jean–Yves Le Drian.
The fact that he responded to the official invitation extended to him since October 2012 and he is present in our country today is a great honour.
I would like to point out that Mr. Le Drian’s visit to Athens takes place few days after the President’s of the French Republic François Hollande visit and the very important discussions he had with the Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, and with the President of the Hellenic Republic.
We all know that the Greek people during this period, headed by the Government of National salvation, is trying to overcome the dead-ends, to stand back on their feet, to manage reform and recovery. It is the time when Greece counts its friends.
The two peoples, the Greek and the French, we have historic and traditional bonds of friendship and solidarity among us. Since the war for National Independence and Freedom of the Greek, the French were by our side during all difficulties, ready to prove –and, indeed, they did– the friendship and solidarity relation bonding them with Greece and the Hellenic people.
As I already said, during these hard times Greece counts again its friends and Mr. Hollande, and also Mr. Le Drian today, prove and confirm once more the feelings of friendship France has towards the Hellenic people and Greece.
Our meeting gave us the chance to discuss the whole complex of bilateral military and defence relations. All was acted upon based on the EU “Pooling and Sharing” initiative, giving us the opportunity to examine various alternatives for cooperation, pointing out the sectors of maritime surveillance, cyber-defence, training and spare parts’ supply, as well as weapon systems’ maintenance.
We all know that since 2008 the two countries, Greece and France, have entered an agreement of strategic partnership. Therefore we agreed to work even harder and accelerate time periods, speed up our pace, so as to draw up a defence agreement between the two countries which will be the framework for us to achieve closer bilateral military cooperation, as far as the operational capabilities as well as the exchange of know-how between the two Defence Ministries are concerned.
Consequently, the first thing we should keep in mind is that Greece and France proceed to a strengthening of their relations in the field of military and defence cooperation, and that we will proceed quickly to entering a new defence agreement.
Moreover, we decided imminently, in the context of this strategic partnership, dating since 2008, to form a joint Franco-Greek committee consisted of cadres and staff officers from both Defence Ministries.
The mission of this Committee will be to compose an agreement that will cover the Hellenic Armed Forces’ operational needs in the field of naval forces, particularly frigates and the operational maintenance of armament equipping the Hellenic Armed Forces.
I had the chance to exchange views with Mr. Le Drian, my good colleague and friend, for matters pertaining to the broader region the two countries belong to, matters relating to the Mediterranean countries, our neighbourhood, the course of Europe, the crisis in Mali and the countries of the Sahel, where as you all know Greece was among the first countries, if not the first country, that ran to the assistance of the French Republic, allocating at first 4 Hellenic Armed Forces’ personnel who will immediately contribute to the training of the African Forces called to act in the area.
Furthermore, we discussed matters such as the developments in Syria and the Middle East, the role that countries of the European South can assume, so as to restore a framework of security, cooperation, stability, peace and good relations in our neighbourhood, in the broader region the two countries belong to.
I believe that, given the very good collaboration between Greece and France, we enter a phase of closer cooperation between the two countries and for this reason I would like to express to the French Government my satisfaction, but also to my good colleague and friend Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Minister of Defence of the French Republic my thankfulness.
J. LE DRIAN: Thank you dear Panos for your words. I would like to tell you that I am very happy to be in Athens today – tomorrow I will visit Alexandroupolis – first of all because it is a visit of friendship. Me and Panos, we know each other since the time we both assumed our duties.
Therefore, we both learned the relevant to defence at the same time, jointly; we took our first steps together, yet we have made progress.
We mutually examined many issues. However, before anything else, I would like to say that Greece and France have shared solidarity in many issues.
This started at the beginning of the formation of the Greek State, when French forces came to help the new country to stand on its feet. Up until modern times, until the current difficulties and grieves Greece experiences, France has always been present.
Before coming here, yesterday late at night, I had a meeting with the President, Mr. Hollande, who confirmed his political commitment for Greece’s support.
Maybe some times it is difficult but President Mitterand, who also was a great friend of Greece, said that when there is a will, the way will be found.
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: When there is a will, there is a way.
J. LE DRIAN: So, we referred to many mutual matters, as the Minister mentioned before. First of all, I would like to underline the great cooperation we have in the field of defence.
As first example I would mention Greece’s cooperation to the operations in Libya, where the Hellenic participation has been very effective. I would like to thank once more the Greek government for this cooperation.
This is what is also currently happening in Mali. We are familiar with the difficulties Greece is facing, however on its part Greece knows how important the mission in Mali is for the security of this country, as well as of the rest of Europe.
By implementing the decisions taken by the European Europe, Greece decided to participate, by contributing to the training of the Armed Forces there, and I would like to thank my friend Panos for this participation.
In addition, we have the same approach as far as Europe of Defence is concerned, particularly with the “Pooling and Sharing” Panos referred to earlier.
In this spirit, we decided to prepare a new defence agreement. Since 2008 we have a global strategic relation. Today we decided to form a defence agreement in the framework of our bilateral cooperation.
Besides, this is the message for enhancement of the cooperation between the two countries, just like few days ago the President of the French Republic and the Greek Prime Minister stated.
In the context of this agreement, there is a kind of subsection…
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: A more special agreement.
J. LE DRIAN: A more special agreement to cover the Hellenic Armed Forces’ operational needs and, particularly, the naval forces and the frigates.
Therefore, we decided to work aiming at concluding this agreement, in the framework of this Franco-Greek committee which will begin its works immediately in the next days.
The aim of this committee will be to take care of matters pertaining to the operational maintenance of the Hellenic Armed Forces’ armament.
Hence, this is an important step towards the enhancement of our defence cooperation which will result to the conclusion of a defence and cooperation agreement which is a very important action by itself, one we want to elaborate as fast as possible.
It is an aspect of the cooperation developed by the two countries, to which the President of the French Republic referred to intensively.
Once more, I am very happy to be here and meet with my friend.
