“Mister Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, mister Chairman of the official Opposition, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to say that the issue we are discussing today is, indeed, of great national significance.
A few days ago, you also visited the venues of the shipyards. You had direct meetings with the employees, as well as immediate information on how things have evolved.
I would like to thank you, mister Chairman, for the understanding you showed last week, when you submitted this topical question yet, due to the visit Asmussen paid, it couldn’t be answered on Friday and I would like to thank you for the transfer of this conversation today.
I remind you that the implementing agreement for the shipyards, validated by the Law 3385/2010, regulated the procedures, or rather the existing litigations, the transfer of shares, the resolution to the issue of State aid to the Hellenic Shipyards S.A (HSY), the reviewed programmes for submarine building in the shipyards, as well as the payments and the delivery time schedule.
At the time, the aim was to bring to an end the initial, corrupt contracts for submarines – offset benefits included – that served as a channel for suspicious payments.
The implementing agreement with HSY includes 6 parts, among which the contracts for submarine building of the projects ARCHIMEDES and POSEIDON 2 respectively.
The Ministry of National Defence’s priority, via the apposite bodies for the building and taking delivery of the submarines in the shipyards, is to complete the building and taking delivery of the submarines.
That is our Ministry’s aspiration, always within the precise framework of legality and service of national and public interest, in the aspect of the country’s both fiscal and defence policies.
The aim was, and still is, to safeguard and enhance the country’s shipbuilding infrastructure, as well as the Hellenic State’s resources, particularly the ones belonging to the Hellenic Navy, that has paid enormous amounts without having taken delivery of anything.
The operation of the shipyards and the problems of property are of the Ministry of Finance’s and the Ministry of Development’s pertinence.
Since June 2011 and afterwards, a new line of complications surfaced to the relations between the shipyards, under their new command, and the German sub-contractors, as well as to the relations between them two and the Hellenic Public Sector.
Despite the attempts that have been made so far, the situation has not been straightened out, which is our objective. Currently, the HSY and their shareholder have resorted to arbitration, demanding a compensation of 1 billion Euros, which is pending before the International Court of Arbitration.
Our Ministry’s objective is to disengage the shipbuilding contracts from the problems that have occurred concerning the shipyards’ ownership but also, of course, to ensure the continuation of their operation.
Mister Chairman, the Ministry of National Defence is the shipyards’ customer – if I may say so. Therefore, our position is that the arbitration is one issue, yet the delivery of submarines to the Hellenic Navy is a whole different issue. The law itself – let us not forget about this – differentiates the procedure of resort to arbitration as far as the submarines are concerned.
In the case of the submarines, the arbitration clauses are different at all levels. By explicit provision, in the disputes emerging by the submarine building contracts, the clauses provided should be implemented.
The issue of terminating shipbuilding contracts is, and my guess is that you agree with that, a complicated legal issue by itself, due to their connection to all agreements concerning the shipyards’ selling.
As you all know, the Ministry of National Defence had decided to not continue the payments of provided tranches since August 2011. I remind you that back then, I was in this position and I had made this decision.
Ever since, no amount has been paid and I would like today to make a public statement that none will be paid if the dispute is not resolved.
All this occurred after the briefing, by the shipyards, that they had disrupted their agreement with the HDW, the German company that was exclusively responsible for carrying out the works to the submarines.
Therefore, I repeat that non payment of the tranches carries on until today, with the single exception of the payment of one tranche, in May 2011. The Ministry of National Defence at the time had decided that it should act like that, so as to not give the HSY the possibility to implement the relative clause of the agreement that provided for termination in case of non payment of three consecutive tranches.
Of course, I repeat, no changes will be made as far as the issue of payments is concerned, before all pending issues are resolved.
Mister Chairman, as I did when I was Minister of National Defence back then, I pledge that no agreement and no solution regarding the currently existing serious issue concerning the withdrawal of engagement, will materialize without informing or getting the approval of the Parliament, at the level of the apposite parliamentary committee, but also of the plenary session that will be called to validate potential amendment to the contract of 2010.
I believe that, even though in the past the parliamentary procedure was further activated, many of the things accompanying us today in this venture could have been avoided.
If normal operation of the shipyards is not restored in the near future, then mister Chairman we will take measures so as to protect all rights of the Hellenic Public Sector, proceeding to all legal actions.
The time frame is now limited; all interested parties should be aware of that. I must remind you that the current leadership of the Ministry of National Defence has firmly kept distance from the position regarding the shipyards’ ownership and it had stated that no amount would be disbursed without prior approval by the Parliament; especially since the shipyards’ part has not completed fundamental contractual obligations.
It is understood that the Ministry of National Defence, being co-pertinent with the Ministry of Finances -notwithstanding the issue of submarine building-, cooperates with the Ministry of Finances and the Ministry of Development, in the study and proposition of a final solution for the fate of the shipyards and the employees at HSY, as well as for the vital pending issue with the European Commission.
The Hellenic Navy General Staff and the GDDIA keep a complete file of this issue that, mister chairman, is at your disposal.
At this point, I would like to bring in the complete background of the evolvement of the issue concerning the submarine building, with full and detailed data by the pertinent Ministry’s General Directorate of Armaments.
The Ministry of Development continues concentrated efforts, as the Prime Minister, ever since the very first moment, gave explicit directives to assume initiative so as to resolve this issue.
Given that the complete disengagement of submarine building from the shipyards will precede, the case of including the Skaramangas Shipyards to a framework of reform could be examined.
However, given that these procedures are very time-consuming, the dominant topic for the Ministry of National Defence is to resolve the submarine issue in all legal ways.
You have been informed on that during your visit at the shipyards, both on land and in the sea, before the operation of the submarines. Therefore, our priority is to imminently complete the two final tests.
At the moment, our Ministry is obliged to safeguard the safety of the shipyards, due to the absence and indifference of the contractor and the HSY administration, to the benefit of the protection of the shipyards’ employees and of the reinforcement of our national defence system.
Thank you”.
Reply
“First of all, after listening attentively to what mister Chairman, Mr. Tsipras, said, I arrive to one principal conclusion. That we all care the same, we all share the same consideration for such a major national issue.
And that is because we want the submarines. The country’s defence should be reinforced and, of course, this adventure that has us exposed and, above all, actually demonstrates our system’s inadequacy and inability to resolve problems must come to an end.
On the issue of the submarines, as I also had the opportunity to say earlier mister Chairman, we agree that it is a major financial issue, but also a defence and national stake.
You can be confident that it is a key issue for us and I am certain that the same applies for you too. I would like to assure you that soon the target will be met; that is the taking delivery of the4 submarines and the protection of public interest.
Not long ago I did not avoid presenting you the figures, I just wanted to get reminded. Indeed, until the adoption of the law of 2010, payments to the amount of 2.33 billion Euros had been made.
But also, after the adoption of this law, the amount of 362 million Euros was paid. Yet, I would like to remind you once more what I said earlier, that since we assumed duties, with the Government of Papadimos, when I was again at this office, the payments ceased. Not one Euro will be paid unless the submarines are delivered.
Currently at the Ministry we are facing a situation that, as it results from the discussion we are now having, was inherited to us from the past; and, it is reasonable that it will produce disagreement and contradiction.
You said earlier that the state has continuity, and I agree with you. Yet the governments do not have continuity. This is why they change regularly. They change because the society decides that the operation of the political system must be ameliorated and, principally, solutions must be found.
As far as the “lapsus linguae” is concerned, I would like to say, mister Chairman, that if certain people had not acted under water, this problem wouldn’t exist. I just rephrase what you said, so that you don’t think that you made a mistake. You spoke correctly; you only had to refer to those times.
Our Ministry tries, as far as possible, to give an end to this unacceptable situation and engagement to the part relating to the 4 submarines that will soon be included to the capacity of the Armed Forces, the Hellenic Navy.
You can be confident that other ministries, pertinent for the operation of the HSY and the preservation of job posts, work hardly so as to fully overcome the current challenging situation that damages our country’s interest.
This is why, mister Chairman, our Ministry and I personally welcome the vivid and sincere interest you have shown on matters of national defence and promotion of the country’s defence shielding; a vital component of which are the four submarines in Skaramangas.
Therefore, we principally agree on a common path towards resolving this issue; that is to take delivery of the submarines as soon as possible, always abiding by legitimacy, transparency and safeguard of public interest. This is our duty, this is our commitment to the Hellenic people, as well as to the Hellenic Armed Forces which are the guarantors of our independence and integrity.
One last thing; A few moments ago you announced that you have the intention to proceed to the proposal for the composition of the examination committee. It is every political party’s -much more so the official Opposition’s- inalienable right to do so. However, I would like to say, since you have made certain insinuations, that this Government is not afraid of examination committees, since its relation to this case is clear and it does not intimidate her.
I hope that your message was not addressed to this government. From what I said earlier to you, mister Chairman, you can understand that we agree as to the general concept of how things are and on the interest we both have on resolving an issue that relates to a national cause, the protection of public interest, without forgetting of course the employees in the shipyards.
We have a very important work force and scientific force, who are currently inactive, whose families are suffering and, as you know, our Ministry is by their side, in a collective and universal effort to resolve this issue.
Therefore, I would like to assure you that, as far as the Government and the Ministry of National Defence are concerned, we will act quickly so as to solve the problem. In this effort, mister Chairman, I cannot spot a single political party in this sacred room of the Parliament that would not agree with this goal. I believe that the day when we will have resolved this issue is not far away.
Thank you very much”.