The Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos met with the president of the House of Representatives and Mr. Yiannakis Omirou in his office, during the first day of his official visit in Cyprus.

During their visit, they discussed matters pertaining to Hellenic-Cypriot relations.

Following their meeting, Mr. Omirou and Mr. Panagiotopoulos made the following statements:

Y. OMIROU: It is a great pleasure for us to welcome here at the House of Representatives the Greek Minister of National Defence, who is traditionally associated with Cyprus’ and the Cypriots’ struggles.

From all posts he has served in, the Cyprus issue and the justification of the Cypriot people’s struggle to terminate the occupation and to re-establish the infringed human rights and fundamental liberties of our people were among his first priorities.

We had the chance to exchange views during our friendly and heartfelt meeting on matters of defence, and we agreed that defence and the deterrent capability of both our Armed Forces should remain the main parameter for our national strategy, so that national sovereignty and security will be safeguarded and we will not give the impression, nor will various others consider, that the financial problems both Greece and Cyprus are facing could ever lead us to derogations as far as our national matters are concerned, as well as on the Cyprus issue, and by that I mean becoming vulnerable to accepting a deficient solution of the Cyprus issue.

We also exchanged of course views on the course of economy in Greece and Cyprus, where positive steps have been made to overcoming this difficult financial circumstance. And, as I have already said, we Greeks are made for the difficulties; we will overcome our problems and we will get once more into the track of perspective and hope for the future.

Once again i welcome in Cyprus the Minister of National Defence.

P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: I would like to thank the President of the House of Representatives and leader of the Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) Mr. Yannakis Omirou, with whom I have a long and fruitful friendship. I thank him for his warm speech and attentive welcome.

I am here in order to hold discussions with the Cypriot political world and, of course, to closely cooperate with my counterpart, the Minister of Defence Mr. Eliadis. In the framework of this visit, I had the chance to exchange views at a very creative and fruitful discussion with the President of the House of Representatives, who is one of the politicians of the Republic of Cyprus who have a long tenure, a long presence and a great contribution to Hellenism and the values it represents.

My standing position is that during these hard times experienced by the Greek and Cypriot Hellenism, during these moments, among the hammer and the anvil where we are, we cannot, under no circumstances let the financial crisis and our fiscal problems affect the priorities in Hellenism’s national security, whether this concerns matters of the Hellenic Republic, whether it concerns matters of the Republic of Cyprus.

National security, the protection of national sovereignty is above all and before everything else. Besides, without national security, without national sovereignty, without national independence, no financial sector in Greece or in Cyprus will be able to function.

I will repeat what I have already said after my meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Dimitris Christofias, that besides the problems, despite the fiscal Scylla and Harybdis we are going through, Greece will be the force always ensuring the security and national sovereignty of the Cypriot Hellenism.

This is a given decision, it is a diachronic decision and, please allow me to say, a decision that before everything is going through the thoughts, experiences and beliefs of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic republic himself, Mr. Antonis Samaras.

I would like to thank once more the President of the House of Representatives for the fruitful discussion and tell him that he is expected again at the Hellenic Parliament where we will have the honour to be presented with his speech and exchange views; me, the Minister of Foreign Affairs but also the other members of the Standing Committee for National Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Thank you very much mister President.