“It would be good if the dialogue is restarted (s.s.: with Turkey) if the threats are not restarted. Because once again this would develop in a futile and meaningless way” observed the Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos in an interview with “Vima tis Kyriaki”, referring to the relevant conversation he had with the American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during the working dinner, in the context of his visit to Greece, since he “appreciates – and he is not the only one – that it is in the interest of the stability of the NATO Alliance, especially in the sensitive south-eastern end of it, but also in the interest of the two countries”.

At the same time, he reminded that “the prime minister was categorical saying that he never refused the constructive dialogue with Turkey. But he made it clear that this dialogue cannot take place under the regime of threats and while an incendiary, aggressive and provocative rhetoric is being developed from the Turkish side.”

“The recent tragedy in Turkey brought about a relaxation of tension and perhaps a better climate especially after Greece’s initiative to help the affected areas. We could build on this better climate. One step could be the resumption of the dialogue on confidence-building measures (CBM),” he added, while when asked if he would see his Turkish counterpart, he limited himself to saying: “I say invite him to my pre-election speech in Kavala. What would you say;”.

Referring to his same conversation with the American Foreign Minister, Mr. Panagiotopoulos announced that “the working dinner with the US Foreign Minister included an overview of the security situation in the region and regarding Turkey, but also our Balkan neighbors. It was confirmed that in this fluid environment Greece is a pillar of security and stability. And that the strategic relationship is stronger than ever.”

At the same time, he announced that “Mr. Blinken confirmed that the qualification of the F-35 is in the final stretch, which reinforces the qualitative superiority of the Greek weapon systems. The response of the American state to our request is expected in the spring. I think we will have time to bring it to the Parliament’s Equipment Programs Committee before elections are called,” he added.

With regard to Ukraine, and the American request for the S-300 “we also repeated the position that we could not release equipment systems that are useful in our defense arrangement which we cannot weaken given the security challenges that still we face The discussion took place in a very intimate and warm atmosphere,” he further pointed out.

In his interview, the Minister of National Defense was asked about the fact that at the center of the talks in the context of the MDCA (also known as the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement), Kavala was included in the discussion.

Initially, Mr. Panagiotopoulos commented that “due to the increased strategic importance of the port of Alexandroupoli given the developments and the need to support Ukraine, it has suddenly been thrust into the center of attention of the Americans, who recognize the enormous success of being chosen as a transit hub for their troops towards the north. Its importance is now recognized by all allies”, he pointed out.

At the same time, he noted that “in our meeting with the American Assistant Secretary of Defense, responsible for International Security Dr. Celeste Wallander – after her visit to Larissa and Alexandroupolis – we made an overall assessment of the MDCA’s forecasts and we said that it can be enriched with even more locations and that this is also the key to success, the creation of a society of interests, where if the interest of one is affected, the interest of the other is automatically affected, with all that this implies for the stimulation of the security and strategic relationship between the two countries. And this was recorded by the American YFYPAM”, he observed. Kavala and its port, he emphasized, does not operate in competition, but in addition to that of Alexandroupolis. If Alexandroupoli is used as a troop and energy transit hub, Kavala can fill the void in terms of commercial traffic. Ports therefore function as development pillars of the entire region”, he commented.

At the same time, he announced that in the next few days they will visit the airport of Amygdaleona – where a company that trains prospective commercial airline pilots already operates and attracts huge interest from foreign pilots – executives of an American company, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Costas Fragogiannis and himself, as part of the expression of interest from the said company for the creation of a maintenance and “perhaps assembly center for Erickson firefighting helicopters considering that the wider Balkan region and beyond can be served from there”.

It is “an important investment move, which will stimulate economic activity in the region and will once again confirm the great strategic interest of the Americans in investing in northern Greece”, he further noted.

Finally, regarding the acquisition of corvettes, he said that “the final decision on the corvettes is imminent. Both proposals are extremely positive for the Navy’s needs, and the winner will be decided in the finer details of the details. The final decision has not been made yet but we are very close,” he concluded.