On Friday 14 October 2022, the General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, Dr. Kostantinos Balomenos, provided in the “Kapodistrias” hall of the Ministry of National Defence, an update to the students of the 27th Class of Embassy Attachés of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the National Defence Policy (NDP).
The lecture took place in the context of scheduled visits of the Diplomatic Academy to services of the National Defence General Staff and Units of the Armed Forces, in Attica, Larissa and Chania.
During his lecture, the General Director presented the administrative structure and responsibilities of the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, the particular chapters of the institutional text on National Defence Policy for which the General Directorate is responsible, as well as the factors that shape this policy.
In particular, Dr. Balomenos referred to the current developments in the international environment, the objectives and principles of National Defence Policy, the political and military situation, the basic principles governing the organisation and operation of the Armed Forces and the national strategic doctrine.
Moreover, as an example of the successful operation of a State in a crisis management situation, he mentioned the holistic crisis management at Evros River in March 2020 and the fruitful cooperation of many of our country’s actors and institutions in that case.
Finally, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, referred in detail to the provisions of Law 4622/19 (on the Executive State) and the role of the Government National Security Council (KYSEA) in shaping interministerial policies and decision-making for the country’s security, while he provided also information on the National Security Strategy which is under elaboration.
At the end of the lecture, the General Director, Dr. Kostantinos Balomenos, received numerous questions from the students of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Deputy Director of Studies of the Diplomatic Academy, First Counselor of Embassy, Ms Evangelia Kalaitzi, thanked Dr. Constantinos Balomenos for his in-depth presentation and the constructive discussion that followed and wished that this cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence will continue in the future.
