G. Oikonomou: The arrival of the first Rafale is a geostrategic development of utmost importance

LAST UPDATE: 13:34

Geostrategic development of the utmost importance, as, as he said, makes our Air Force one of the strongest in the region, seals the Defense Agreement with France, while promoting the strategic autonomy of the European Union, characterized the arrival of the first 6 fighter jets, Rafale type from France yesterday in our country, the Undersecretary to the Prime Minister and government representative, Giannis Oikonomou during his introductory position in the briefing of political authors.

Mr. Oikonomou also called on all adult beneficiaries of the booster dose, who have not yet been vaccinated with the third dose, to do so in a timely manner “not only to maintain the privileges that this entails, but also to shield themselves against it. severe coronary heart disease “, as he characteristically noted. He spoke of a gradual release of the 5th wave, however, noting that there are still asymptomatic carriers, which spread the virus, while hospitalizations and intubations, due to “Omicron” and “Delta” respectively maintain the increased pressure in the NSS.

Finally, the government spokesman described yesterday’s issue of a 10-year bond as successful, where, as he said, 3 billion euros were raised at an interest rate of 1.8%.

The entire introductory position of the government representative in today’s briefing of the political authors:

“Greece – thanks to the plan and the fundamental political choices of the Government – is becoming stronger day by day economically, more strongly geopolitically, more militarily. The supply of 24 state-of-the-art Rafale aircraft is the practical proof, the first 6 of which arrived yesterday This is a geostrategic development of utmost importance, because the new fighters make our Air Force one of the strongest in Europe and the Mediterranean, something that gives added value and special weight to the flexibility of our diplomacy, but also the multilateral alliances of the country. And of course it seals the defense cooperation of Greece and France, giving at the same time a new breath in the perspective of the European strategic autonomy.

Defense policy is part of our national policy because this Government believes that economic stability, social cohesion, tackling social inequalities in the country must be framed by shielding Greece’s security and rebuilding its international power.

I should also note that the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis -speaking yesterday at the ceremony for the receipt of the new aircraft- announced that the flight and diving allowances in the Armed Forces and the Security Forces are exempt from any tax. This measure primarily concerns the Armed Forces, but also the Greek Police, the Fire Brigade and the Coast Guard. It will also apply to the compensation of executives who provide medical assistance by air.

It is the minimal and long-standing expression of gratitude of the State to all those who are vigilant so that Greece can prosper with peace and security. It is an obligation that our Government is fulfilling.

Pandemic, protection measures and vaccinations

There are two main characteristics that are recorded in relation to the epidemiological situation of the country:

First, there is a gradual decline, as the number of cases continues to decrease, but one must take into account that there are still asymptomatic carriers, which of course transmit the virus.

And secondly, there is still increased pressure on the National Health System, both in simple beds, due to “O”, and in the ICU. because of “Delta” which while in the community remains at a low rate – about 10% – causes half and even the most serious diseases, especially in our unvaccinated fellow citizens.

Evaluating all the data, the Infectious Diseases Committee made a suggestion yesterday and the Government decided to extend the measures decided at the end of last year for another week.

Let me also add about the pandemic that – following the decision of the National Vaccination Committee for a fourth dose to the citizens belonging to the group of immunosuppressed people – the platform opens today in order to close their appointments.

At the same time, for the convenience of our islanders, new vaccination lines were opened in 26 islands for children aged 5-11. The vaccinations will take place in Health Centers or in Multipurpose Regional Clinics of the islands on the 28th of January and on the 4th of February and the parents can make the appointments until the 25th of January.

Finally, I would like to point out that as of February 1, 2022, all our adult citizens who have been vaccinated and a period of 7 months has elapsed from the administration of the 2nd dose in the case of dual vaccines or from the administration of the single dose for those who received the single dose to be considered fully vaccinated should also do the booster dose. We therefore call on all our fellow citizens to be vaccinated with the booster dose not only to maintain the privileges of the vaccinated, but also to be shielded against a possible severe coronavirus disease.

Our path through the pandemic is still difficult, but with planning, reliability and dedication to the goal, we will meet the maximum.

New reduction of unemployment – OAED programs have started for 86,000 new jobs

The central goal of the government plan, with economic and above all social dimensions, is to support employment and stimulate social cohesion. This is proven by our policy. This proves the results of our policy, because despite the difficult situation of the pandemic, unemployment continued to decline as shown by the recent data of ELSTAT. This justifies once again the Government’s economic and development policy. This policy leads to more and better paid jobs. According to ELSTAT, in November 2021, unemployment fell to 13.3% compared to 16.1% in November 2020. In simple words, this means that we had 208,940 more employees in November 2021 compared to November 2020 and 54,950 more employees in November 2021 compared to October 2021.

Obviously we still have a long way to go to reduce unemployment even more. But our policy is bearing fruit and this has a direct positive effect on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

I remind you that until today:

-We have allocated more than 9 billion euros to cover 3 million workers and unemployed, from the effects of the coronavirus.

-Insurance contributions have been reduced and kept reduced.

-A program to cover insurance contributions has been implemented to create 100 thousand jobs and continues this year to cover an additional 50,000 recruitments in the private sector.

-From the beginning of the year, the program “First Seal” for young people aged 18 to 29 was implemented.

-For the year that started, OAED promotes -covered by the Recovery Fund and the NSRF- eleven new programs for employment of 86,000 unemployed with emphasis on young people, women and the long-term unemployed. The first of eleven programs has already been implemented and the submission of applications has started. It concerns the subsidy of companies for the employment of 4,000 unemployed people aged 30 and over, with an emphasis on women. It is co-financed by Greece and the EU, and is aimed at companies that have not reduced their staff in the quarter before the application and have not received funding from state aid over 200,000 euros in the current two previous years.

Our Government responds to the request of the new generation to find good jobs in the Homeland. And in the near future they will be even more and of better quality.

For the issuance of a 10-year bond

In closing, I would like to emphasize that Greece proceeded yesterday to another successful issuance of a 10-year bond, as it gathered high demand and quality of funds. 3 billion euros were raised, with an interest rate of about 1.8%, which is considered very satisfactory, as in the current situation, there is an increase in government bond yields, due to the high uncertainty caused by the ongoing health crisis, rising inflationary pressures and the impending shift of central banks towards a more restrictive monetary policy.

Characteristic of the upward trend in government bond yields is the fact that German bonds are trading, for the first time in three years, with a positive return.

However, despite the difficult situation, Greece borrowed at a cost of less than half compared to the corresponding issue of March 2019, when the interest rate was set at 3.9% “.