N. Panagiotopoulos: In our country, inactivity in armaments is not criminalized, but action

In our country, the inaction in armaments is not criminalized but the action, stressed the Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos, commenting on the warning of the President of SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras that next time, the case of the International Air Center of Kalamata will not come as a but as a matter of investigating responsibilities, as defined by the Constitution in cases of infidelity and embezzlement of public money.

I chose the action, said Mr. Panagiotopoulos, emphasizing that “you do not invoke patriotism in 15 minutes in Parliament, but through your action and not through the omission (of the previous government) that leads to sudden death.” You knew from 2018 that the training programs of our Air Force would end in 2023 and you did nothing, said Mr. Panagiotopoulos.

On the issue of the purchase or leasing of training aircraft, which the PA needs, he said that this is why the staff under the SYRIZA government had ruled that the “financially advantageous” solution was to lease and not to buy the aircraft. He even noted that the decision of the Defense Council in January 2019, (with P. Kammenos Minister of National Defense) included (1) the continuation of negotiations for the establishment of the Kalamata Center with a financial lease with the Government of Canada, (2) The briefing the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for the additional annual financial requirement and (3) the investigation of the other offers to the PA, “on the undertaken route of the leasing, and not another route”.

At the same time, Mr. Panagiotopoulos stressed that the training will remain in Greek hands and assured that the agreement (with the Israelis) will come to Parliament to inform its members “to see if something” rotten “is hidden”.

There is no obligation to go through the Plenary Session, but we will ensure the right to information, said Mr. Panagiotopoulos. Either a parliamentary delegation will come to the ministry or an information will be given to the Parliament, so that “you can find out that there is nothing reprehensible. According to Mr. Tsipras, very soon, because I dared to act and act, where for years they repeated it, spun it and discussed it, but did not do it, and now they accuse me. “Were we afraid? I was not afraid.”

“But the jet time is over in 18 months, but you were talking about it. Now there is a process. Negotiations, interest, and bidding have begun. The Canadians have fallen to 1.25 billion euros (since the Israelis entered) for 20 See that the 1.250 billion euros of Canadians for 20 years is 62.7 million a year, while the 1.375 billion euros of Israelis for 22 years is 62.5 million a year, and with more benefits. more economically advantageous and in absolute numbers “, said the Minister of National Defense.

He also stressed that the PA does not feel offended but is happy for it, as it was happy for the Mirage, and for the Vipers for the Rafale.

You have every right to be informed, concluded Mr. Panagiotopoulos, but if we leave here in isolation, it is to recognize what the PA characterized as an urgent service need, with immediate dramatic consequences. We had to act and not leave it for the future.