The Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias attended on Monday 17 June 2024, the inauguration of the International Defence and Security Expo “Eurosatory 2024” held in Paris. During the inauguration, the Greek Minister cut the ribbon at the opening of the expo, along with the French Minister of Defence Sébastien Lecornu, after being invited by his counterpart.

The Minister of National Defence also had a bilateral meeting with the French Minister of Defence, during which the two delegations discussed further enhancement of defence cooperation, both at bilateral level and within EU and NATO, as well as the developments in regional and international matters in the field of Security and Defence. France’s participation in the Greek Ecosystem of Defence Innovation, and the organization of a Symposium of Defence Innovation in Greece in the fall, with France as the guest of honour, were also discussed.

After the meeting with his French counterpart, Mr. Dendias stated to ERT’s correspondent in France, Thomais Papaioannou:

“I had the opportunity, a short while ago, to have a long meeting with my French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu. First of all, we discussed on a series of matters in the context of our strategic agreement with France, which I was honoured to sign three years ago, as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

We analysed the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, we discussed on large armament programmes, the frigates, the Rafale, the broader cooperation between the French and the Hellenic Republic. We discussed on the proposal made by the Greek Prime Minister and the Polish Prime Minister, to create a common “dome” for the European air defence.

I also had the opportunity to brief him on the developments in the context of defence innovation in Greece, after the voting by an overwhelming majority of the Hellenic Parliament, of the draft law for the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation; we also discussed on organising the Symposium of Defence Innovation in Greece, in the fall.

Meeting with my French counterpart is always an excellent opportunity for me, but also for any Greek Minister I think, to be able to form new areas for cooperation with our strategic ally, France”

In addition, answering a question on whether they also discussed on the Olympic Games in France, and the possibility of Greece’s assistance, the Minister of National Defence stated:

“As far as the Olympic Games are concerned, there is a certain level of understanding regarding Greece’s assistance to France in certain matters; it has been agreed upon. I had the opportunity to wish the best of luck to France in this very important, for Greece also, organization”.

Earlier, Mr. Dendias, accompanied by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus Vassilis Palmas, inaugurated the Greek defence industries pavilion, which is under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence. The Minister of National Defence was received at the Greek pavilion by the Chairman of SEKPY (Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Materiel Association) Anastasios Rozolis.

At the inauguration of the Greek pavilion, Nikos Dendias stated:

“It is with great joy that I am here today, in Paris, at “Eurosatory”, the largest defence expo, to inaugurate the Greek pavilion, the pavilion of the Hellenic defence industries.

I am twice as happy to also have here, next to me, with me, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus.

I would like to say that an important step is taken today for Greek defence enterprises as, for the first time after the crisis, we have a combined Greek pavilion, under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence. This means that we have a greater and more distinctive presence in a big European defence expo. We are leaving our own footprint, the Greek footprint, i.e. the competence that us Greeks, and our country has to participate in the collective effort made in Europe, in the EU, to create strategic autonomy.

I have already said that EU’s strategic autonomy is not contradicting NATO. On the contrary, they are in a cooperative phase, so that we can manage more things together.

As you already know, a draft law was voted in Greece by the Hellenic Parliament, by an overwhelming majority of 80% and 90%, regarding the establishment of the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation;

We believe that this Centre will be the link between the funding, the needs of the General Staffs and the Greek defence industries, the Greek defence ecosystem. It will be with great joy that we will soon welcome the Republic of Cyprus to this innovation ecosystem, along with companies from other friend countries, such as France.

I will conclude, saying that it was a great honour for me that my counterpart, the French Minister Sébastien Lecornu, invited me, and the Lebanese Minister, to inaugurate this big expo together. I will meet him in a while. However, I would not miss mentioning underlining that this is a very important step for Greek industries to be here today, in Paris. Thank you very much”.

Furthermore, in the context of his presence at the International Defence and Security Expo “EUROSATORY 2024”, Mr. Dendias had a private meeting with his counterpart from the Republic of Cyprus Vassilis Palmas, with whom he visited the Cypriot pavilion.

Upon visiting, Mr. Dendias stated:

“I am very happy to be here, at the Cypriot pavilion in the French Defence Expo “Εurosatory”, following an invitation by my friend, the Minister of defence of the Republic of Cyprus.

It is the first time that the Republic of Cyprus has presence here in this exhibition, with a very impressive pavilion. Therefore, I have to say that Hellenism holds two pavilions here.

It was my joy and honour to meet with the Minister, other than get a tour at the pavilion that proves that Cyprus has an ecosystem of defence industries. I can see that it will be in close cooperation with our own ecosystem.

I invited Mr. Minister to come to the Symposium that will be held in Athens in the fall, and I was given the opportunity to have with him a sincere exchange of views on the matters that Greece and Cyprus face. We agreed on certain matters and renewed our meeting for July 20 in Cyprus, to be followed by another in the fall, so that we can further deepen our brotherly relations between Greece and Cyprus.

Thank you again, not only for the invitation, but for the warm atmosphere always at my visits here”.

Moreover, the Minister of National Defence had a series of contacts with delegates of defence industries and defence technology companies, within the expo.

Source: www.mod.mil.gr