The Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos visited today the South Eastern European Brigade (SEEBRIG) HQ in Tirnavos, where he attended the change of PMSC (Politico-Military Steering Committee) chairmanship of the SEDM-CC (South Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial Coordination Committee), as well as the command handover of SEEBRIG.
The duties of the Chairman of PMSC are assumed by the State Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning of Romania, Sebastian Huluban, who will be replacing the Undersecretary of State for Defence, Gioacchino Alfanο.
The Turk Brigadier General Hakan Eser took over the Command of SEEBRIG by the Brigadier General Zdravko Popovski of FYROM.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos met with the Defence Minister of FYROM, Talat Xhaferi. The two Ministers discussed matters relating to the two counties’ defence relations.
After the ceremony, the Minister of Defence made the following statement:
“Today, here in Tirnavos, in this really beautiful ceremony, which is full of symbolisms, the command of SEEBRIG was handed over to a Turk Brigadier General, in the context of cooperation between all countries of this neighbourhood.
During my brief speech I underlined the need that the broader region of South Eastern Europe lets go of its sour past, as soon as possible, through relations of cooperation, solidarity and friendship. We ought to establish a haven of security for all peoples in the area.
Today’s ceremony was performed in such a spirit. The command was handed over by the FYROM Brigadier General to the Turk Brigadier General, at the presence of the political delegates of countries in our broader neighbourhood.
The message extended at this ceremony is that, despite the fact that the main goal of the Armed Forces is the protection of a country’s independence and integrity, at the same time they are the agents for the configuration of a peaceful and stable environment.
This is the universal message extended by our country throughout our neighbourhood, being one of the most stable agents in South Eastern Europe, always having the possibility to assume missions in the name of international cooperation and peace.
I had the chance to meet with the Defence Minister of FYROM, with whom I had a courtesy meeting, but also an opportunity to discuss on matters relating to our defence cooperation”.
Afterwards, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos visited the Headquarters of the A’ Army and the Hellenic Tactical Air Force Command (HTAF), where he was briefed on their operational capabilities.
The Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Michail Kostarakos, the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Lieutenant General Athanassios Tselios and the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff Lieutenant General (AF) Evaggelos Tournas.