Despite the pressure our country receives to grant Patriot air defense arrays to Ukraine, such a grant is not going to happen. And this is because, as was said yesterday at the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense in Luxembourg, “Greece has supported Ukraine and will continue to support it, to the extent of its capabilities”.
Beyond that, nothing. No Patriot, no S-300. What we gave, we gave. And so far we have given a lot. Let’s not forget that two years ago we granted a Patriot array to Saudi Arabia and we do not want a gap in our defense under any circumstances. Greece was one of the first countries to send humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine (and still does), and has also provided Greek instructors to train Ukrainians in Leopard tanks and unorthodox warfare.
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How the government got to the marching papers of its MPs
So a total of 23 MPs from the North, South Aegean, Evia and Crete and one from Ilia (Avramopoulos) went to the Prime Minister’s call to mobilize everything for the European elections. You see the opinion polls so far are not the best for the government and vigilance is required, as said. And all those running for votes are none other than the MPs, most of whom had never been ministers. News came out, but also grumbling. Press news that the Parliament undertakes to discuss before the elections the issue of violence against women (a major issue that concerns the citizens as it was said) and complaints against some mayors who try to appropriate the government work for their own benefit, but also against of some general secretaries of the government for… oation
Mitsotakis told them to go to their regions with the first objective of postal voting, to mobilize students, workers, pensioners to promote postal voting. A record was made of the problems that concern the voters in their regions, first of all, violence against women, child violence, but also the dissatisfaction brought to many by the law on the marriage of same-sex couples. Problems related to health and access to surgeries, non-payment of the transportation allowance, and individual issues in each region were also recorded.
All the MPs left Maximos happy and for a special reason. All that proved their worth once again in front of the electoral battle. That they will again run for the cross, that they will try to keep the percentages of the ND at high levels, although they will have over their heads the “leaders” in the fight, the ministers (Kairidis, Domna, Zaharakis and others).
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The Spanish twin brother of the Turkish “Anatolos”
I wrote to you a week ago, about the Spanish armada with the helicopter carrier JUAN CARLOS I, which carried out the “DEDALO -24” exercise in our Aegean. Well, the Spanish came back (after passing through Turkey of course) and completed the joint training with the Greek Armed Forces. Now what did they do? I am learning about complex exercise with ships of our Navy as well as aircraft of our Air Force. Of course, let me tell you that in recent years the Spanish have supported their neighbor’s positions in the various military fora…
Source: seaforces.org
And one more thing: This Spanish helicopter carrier (or aircraft carrier – call it whatever you want), is a “little brother” of the Turkish “Anatolus”. The Spanish also built the “Anatolou”, gave it to the Turks for an aircraft carrier, eventually it became a helicopter carrier and a base for launching UAVs (drones) and before the Turkish earthquakes the Turks threatened to take it out to the Aegean.
What did our officers say then? Whatever threatens or encroaches on national sovereign rights, then the “East” will turn into a wonderful underwater park, visited only by… divers. However, Erdogan is not giving up and recently declared that he will give a new order to the Spanish to build him a real aircraft carrier. When will this happen; Let’s see…
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While they were discussing the MOUs, a violation occurred
With a simple announcement (can’t be more simple) from the Ministry of National Defense, reference was made to the talks that took place in the ministry on Confidence Building Measures: An announcement with which, in essence, no news comes out. Perhaps because the topics being discussed are so sensitive that the two countries have decided not to say anything. They simply announced that “Greece and Turkish delegations held a meeting on Confidence Building Measures (CBM) at the Ministry of National Defense. Ambassadors and high-ranking military officers participated in the Delegations. The two sides discussed the course of implementation of the MOUs of 2024 and MOU activities for 2025. The next meeting will be hosted by the Turkish side.” This was the announcement, not even at the meal offered by the Greek side to the Turkish diplomats and soldiers, even though they ate sea bream at the House of the Navy.
The remarkable thing is that while they were discussing Confidence Building Measures, there was also for the first time a violation of air traffic rules with a Turkish ATR, recording a violation. Everyone hopes it’s random, with no repeats.
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When the fighters “glorify” the wreck of Zakynthos
I don’t know if you noticed but the big air exercise “Hiniochos” (the biggest so far) ended and the participating fighters did not fly over the Acropolis as usual. But they would pass somewhere else. The Air Force, changed the plan, did the surprise and had the pilots of the fighters pass over the Shipwreck of Zakynthos. There to see excitement
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Disinformation, artificial intelligence and Russian deep fakes
Security at yesterday’s EU Foreign Affairs and Defense Council in Luxembourg was extremely tight. This is how it happens every time, with ministers being asked to leave their mobile phones out and enter the room without partners. But this time the measures were stricter. The reason would be a separate mention of the need to fight at the European level against disinformation from the East. In fact, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis made a special reference to the need for practical follow-up of the conclusions of the recent European Council, which were adopted following the initiative of the Prime Minister.
The relevant conclusions state that “in the context of the upcoming European elections, the European Council underlines the determination of the European Union and its Member States to closely monitor and limit any risk arising from disinformation, including through artificial intelligence, as well as from the manipulation of information from abroad and interference in electoral processes. The European Council calls on EU institutions and national authorities to cooperate on these issues.”
I should note here that it is the third time in a month that Greece has raised the issue of disinformation, since at the Foreign Affairs Council in March, in the teleconference with the American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs had referred to the issue of disinformation and the dangers of disinformation campaigns using artificial intelligence and deep fakes, during wars and elections around the world, especially when authoritarian regimes use these tools to manipulate public opinion.
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Why did Kasselakis put a bow on uncritical outposts?
I learn that President Kasselakis will visit in the next few days Units and Outposts of our Armed Forces, in various islands of the Aegean Sea.
He will be accompanied by his faithful follower and adviser at the same time, retired Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis. Now why would he do it? They tell me about an exchange of wishes ahead of the celebration of Easter, but also to boost the “patriotic” profile of SYRIZA. European elections because…
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Patriarch and dean in meaningful discussion
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Rector of EKPA, Professor Gerasimos Siassos, recently had a heart-felt and meaningful discussion at the University of Athens, after the official ceremony of naming Emeritus Professor of the Theological School Vlasios Feidas as an Honorary Professor.
A discussion concerning the role and contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the role of the University, the students as representatives of the future and the Theological School of Chalkis, with the rector of the Greek Academy of Sciences declaring the readiness and willingness of the University of Athens to help with educational programs, the reopening of the School of Chalkis and the Ecumenical Patriarch to propose for his part the participation of EKPA students in the pilgrimages he often organizes in Cappadocia, Pontus and wherever else there are ruined churches that bear witness to the presence of Hellenism.
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Rebetika melodies in Cairo
As part of the celebrations of the National Anniversary of March 25, 1821, the Embassy of Greece in Cairo, in collaboration with the Cairo Opera House and the Department of International Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture of Egypt, organized at the El Gomhouria Theater of the Cairo Opera House, on 15.4 .2024, musical performance dedicated to rebetiko.
Representative songs of the genre were performed by Zacharias Karounis, Savveria Margiolas and Denia Kouroussi, accompanied by a ten-member orchestra, under the direction of Thomas Constantinou. The event took place a few months after the performance-tribute to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Maria Callas, which was co-organized by the Embassy of Greece and the Cairo Opera House. The President of the Cairo Opera House, Dr. Lamiaa Zayed, was also present at the event. Culture, as a privileged area of cooperation between Greece and Egypt, is one of the fundamental aspects of the excellent relations between the two countries and the strong ties between the two peoples.
