The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos met today at the Ministry of National Defence with the Secretary General for Transparency and Human Rights Giorgos Sourlas.
During their meeting, Mr. Avramopoulos and Mr. Sourlas discussed issues concerning transparency, good administration and safeguarding of integrity.
After their meeting, Mr. Avramopoulos and Mr. Sourlas made the following statements:
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: The first thing that was confirmed from our meeting was the excellent cooperation we had during the last three years since, from his post and mission, Mr. Sourlas had raised transparency in the Armed Forces to a first line and top priority issue, particularly underlining the fuel issue.
Today we can say that as a result of this excellent cooperation, with the assistance of the Armed Forces and through a series of regular controls which took place, but mainly due to critical decisions that were taken, complete transparency and good administration of this sensitive sector were affirmed.
During these difficult circumstances, according to the Greek people’s demand first of all -but also based on the concepts and principles on which a public, a national system should function- the defence sector, the Greek Armed Forces are at the frontline presenting factual results, consolidating transparency and good administration, thus responding, beyond their key mission which is to ensure the country’s integrity and independence, to the sensitive issue of internal administration of highly sensitive issues as well, such as the issue of fuel.
I would like to thank Mr. Sourlas for the excellent cooperation we had, but also ask him to let me publicly praise him for the excellent work he has presented, the impeccable way in which he has assumed and accomplished this great and important mission which was assigned to him by the Greek Government.
G. SOURLAS: During the meeting we had with the Minister and according to the data Ι brought and he presented, it is confirmed in the most definite way, based on conclusive evidence, that this big adventure we were experiencing until now, the contestation of fuel quality and fuel adulteration in the Armed Forces, has finally ended.
Finally, an end is put to a national and financial crime, as this crime is national when it is takes place within the Armed Forces, the most noble and glorious aspect our country can present.
I am very pleased since, after a long struggle which persisted ten years, we have reached this result we wouldn’t have reached if the political determination did not exist.
By the expressed will of our Prime Minister Antonis Samaras for the issues of transparency I administer, but also here at the Ministry of National Defence, by the will of Dimitris Avramopoulos during his last tenure to allow the Financial and Economic Crime Unit to perform fuel control, progress in favour of Transparency was made.
Mr. Minister’s interest did not end at his first tenure, but it also continued during his second tenure. I believe that Dimitris Avramopoulos put his seal on matters of transparency and good administration; transparency which is so important for our country that currently is idle in bankruptcy and national degradation and needs such actions.
Therefore, I am content that we have such a fortunate ending. His intervention, then and now, was of great importance. I believe that where Dimitris Avramopoulos will go now – and my words are not flattery, they are unaffected – he will put forward the model of Transparency and Human Rights, according to his pertinence.
I would like to wish him the best of luck.