OR Crete It has the only privilege of crossing its territory of energy, geopolitical, geographical and transport axes.

This was stressed by the Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias, who was the main speaker today, Thursday, March 13 Developmental Conference of Cretewhich was organized in Heraklion by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and the Crete Committee.

Crete, he said, “There was a lighthouse for Hellenism, the first Greek culture, the Minoan civilization, developed here.”

And beyond that, it has contributed, in the course of the centuries and to the political and spiritual life of the place.

“Its enormous value did not escape the attention of the Great Powers during the History of Humanity, precisely because of its position, from the time of ancient Greece, later the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Great State of the Great, the Great Great, the Great Great and the Great Great.” explained.

“Crete is just on the intersection point of the north-south and east-west axis, intersection and geopolitical, and geographical, and energy axis. None of this can be considered to be of great importance. Each separately » added.

Referring to Syria He described developments extremely important after the falling Assad regime and stressed that Syria “It has the Sunni element, the Sunni majority, the Shiite element, the Alevis, those who supported the Assad regime, the Kurdish element, the element of the Druze and also, in addition, the Orthodox, the Armenians and some other small groups.”

“What we are currently seeing in Syria is the complete dominance of the Sunni element. So the creation of a Sunni arc: Turkey – Syria – Lebanon (Lebanon is always watching Syria’s developments). And the question that arises is, If the existing status of Al Sarah can include the rest of the elements that make up today’s Syrian mosaic or he will seek alone to dominate the country » Complete.

Today, Mr. Dendias added “Syria remains a question. In the face of this question, Greece must have a clear position. A clear position on the geopolitical role and influence of Syria in the future, but since we are talking here in Crete, so Greece must have and has a clear position in favor of protecting Christian populations in Syria. “

Made it clear that in the narrow geographical sense, Crete is “The nearest major part of Greece to Syria”.

Reminded that ‘Above Crete passes the turquoise‘ and continued: “A completely non -existent memorandum, based on a peculiar, would say, if it could not create such consequences, legal construction.”

“What is this legal construction?” wondered and explained: “That the islands, regardless of size, Crete, perhaps Sicily, have no right to six miles other than six -mile territorial waters, are deprived of the right to the shelf, they are deprived of the peculiar legal view of a part of the Turkish establishment.”

Emphasized that Turkey requires to consider ‘Serious’ the Turkolibyyan memorandum but made it clear that “In the face of this, on behalf of the Mitsotakis government, I had the opportunity, I had the opportunity, I had the honor of signing another agreement which is far from it“

“It is valid in accordance with international law, completely based on the applicable provisions of the Law of Sea and Caustic Law on the Law of the Sea and this is the logic of the agreement. The main tool that allowed this agreement is, of course, Crete. With the Hellenic Egyptian Agreement, Greece defines exclusive economic zones in the Eastern Mediterranean in a completely serious way, perfectly compatible with international law. The interests of both countries and Hellenism are fully served. And of Greece and Egypt. But this agreement proves, The enormous importance of the existence of Crete for the country » The Minister of National Defense stressed.

For the role that Crete can play for NATO, for the US, for the EU. said: “The United States has two bases that will not and cannot give up. Both start with “s”. One is called “Souda Bay”, I think you all know it, the other is called “Subic Bay”, is a little far from here in the Philippines. This is just and why? Because it is precisely the places where even the last class aircraft, “Nimitz Class”, over 100,000 tonnes, can be chartered and repaired. “

He recalled that in a few days the Prime Minister, Mr. Mitsotakis, will present to the Greek Parliament a new equipment plan.

“This new equipment plan includes a completely different approach to what we have had so far. Until now the country has protected the Aegean with its fleet and protected the air with its planes. What we will present in a few days will be presented by the prime minister is a 21st century perception. A dome will be created over the country, we have called him “Achilles’ Shield” emphasized.

“Why have we named him Achilles’ shield; Because it has five different levels, as is Achilles’ shield: an anti-Drone, one anti-missile, an anti-aircraft, an anti-chap “Anti-Ship” and an anti-submarine » explained.

“And the fleet, the large fleet ships, our new frigates with strategic weapons, our 4.5 and 5th generation planes as well as strategic weapons and new submarines, the new generation of our submarines, which we are just discussing, also with strategic weapons, will be released by Greek weapons. And they could choose the role of deterrence against the possible threat. Protected from the need for spatial defense. The defense of the wider airspace and marine and underwater space in Greece will be done with modern, lesser value, but much greater efficiency, due to their number, missile elements » Complete.

‘We change’continued, ‘Fully how they work and how the Armed force We have changed the structure of forces and how they are arranged in Greece. “

Speaking of innovation he said: “Greece is a population country small and we are a small market. But we are great in something else: we are great in human capital, either in our home country or outside it. In any of the great universities of this planet, you will see a Greek scientist. This human capital can offer to what we have started to do. To provide innovative answers to the questions and demands of our General Staffs for leverage this ecosystem. We have created an innovation direction that puts on a new legal person we have made and say “Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation” (ELKAK), the problems of the Armed Forces “.

“ELKAK takes this question and goes to the ecosystem”, added, “That is, in any Greek defense companies there are also the Greek scientists who are interested and posed by the question. It takes the answers, evaluates them, goes to the Armed Forces, the Armed Forces test them, and if the answer is sufficient, then we place an order for the system. “

For Crete he stressed that he has a new great opportunity, taking advantage of “The brilliant position, the excellent human capital, the university and state structures it has, contribute to the maximum national effort below. In trying to make our country stronger, more European and especially more friendly and more useful for the younger generation of Greeks. “

The Minister was foreseen by the Coordinator of the Conference, Heraklion MP and Chairman of the Crete Committee of the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce Lefteris Avgenakis.