The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos, after his meeting with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, made the following statement:
“It was a great pleasure for me to welcome here in Athens the new Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg and wish him every success in his new duties.
Mr. Stoltenberg assumes the reins of the North-Atlantic Alliance during a difficult and turbulent period, with many open security challenges that directly threaten international peace and stability. For this reason, the constructive and honest support of all NATO members is necessary, in order for NATO to successfully respond to its difficult, yet crucial, mission.
During our talks, we had a fruitful and useful exchange of views on all issues, the security threats that trouble the international community, the future of the Alliance, the perspective of Euro-Atlantic relations, as well as on all geopolitical developments in our broader neighbourhood.
I reminded Mr. Stoltenberg that Greece, during its course within NATO, has in full honoured and contributed to its allied obligations, always struggling with its allies for the protection of peace, freedom, independence, human rights and Democracy, wherever needed.
Mr. Stoltenberg had the opportunity to discover himself the effectiveness and fire power of the Greek Armed Forces.
He closely observed the final phase of the joint exercise “Pyrpolitis”, where he was briefed – but he also actually ascertained – the exceptional expertise and capabilities, as well as the professionalism, of the personnel in our Armed Forces.
Our country is very proud for the high level of readiness and militancy of all three branches of our Armed Forces, a fact that classifies it among the states with the greatest and more powerful military deterrence capability in Europe, or even maybe worldwide.
Finally, I assured the Secretary General that, from my capacity as Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, I will constructively work, with a positive attitude, so that the synergies between NATO and the EU will even more converge to the benefit of the two Organisations’ common vision”.