The proceedings of the 2nd High-Level Interministerial Working Meeting (HLWM) on the subject of “Interstate Crisis Management & International Armed Conflicts/Analysis — Impact of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine”, organised by the General Directorate for National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, were concluded with complete success.
This event took place from 23 to 25 November 2022, at the Auditorium “Lieutenant (HAF) Nikolaos Sialmas” of the Hellenic Air Force Academy in Tatoi, with the participation of senior officials of the Armed Forces and the wider public sector.
The purpose of the 2nd HLWM was to provide information, at an inter-ministerial level, to key enablers who are directly involved in managing the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Greece.
During the proceedings of this workshop, the following issues were examined and analysed:
• The facts so far of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis that has evolved into a war, both strategically and operationally.
• The impact of the war, both at global and national level.
• Greece’s actions so far (per Ministry) to address the consequences of the war (e.g. hosting Ukrainian refugees, responding to energy crisis, etc.).
• The possible consequences of the war at national level, in the event of a deterioration of the situation.
• Ways of dealing with the situation (in case of escalation), in the perspective of a Holistic Approach.
On the first day of the 2nd Interministerial Meeting, the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr Nikolaos Chardalias (access to his speech HERE) opened the conference. The Deputy Chief of HNDGS Vice Admiral Ioannis Drimousis HN, on behalf of Chief/HNDGS, and the General Director of DGPEADS, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, welcomed the first day of the 2nd Interministerial Meeting. The keynote speaker was the Ambassador of the Republic of Ukraine to Greece, Mr Sergii Shutenko.
The Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Baiba Braže, also provided an online welcoming address, while the Senior Military Advisor to the Managing Director for Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Crisis Response of the European Union External Action Service, Rear Admiral Jürgen Ehle, addressed the meeting on line, on behalf of the European Union, and presented the actions of the Union in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The speakers of this Working Meeting were high-ranking officials and public actors from the Ministries of National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Rural Development and Food, Maritime and Insular Policy, Transport, Education, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), the Hellenic Police, as well as specialized scientists and recognised experts from Greece and abroad.
More specifically, the speakers of the 2nd High Level Interministerial Working Meeting (HLW) were:
• The Minister of Finance, Mr Christos Staikouras.
• The Minister for Rural Development and Food, Mr Georgios Georgantas.
• The Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Dr. Angelos Syrigos.
• The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for Transport, Mr Michalis Papadopoulos.
• The Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr Konstantinos Katsafados.
• The Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Ms Sofia Voultepsi.
• The General Secretary for Fiscal Policy of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Athanasios Petralias.
• The General Secretary for Energy and Mineral Resources of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy, Ms Alexandra Sdoukou.
• The General Secretary of Migration Policy, Mr Patroklos Georgiadis.
• The General Secretary of Ports, Port Policy and Maritime Investments of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Dr. Evangelos Kyriazopoulos.
• The General Secretary of Agricultural Policy and European Funds Management of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Dr. Konstantinos Baginetas.
• The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr Ioannis Stournaras.
• The General Director of the Fourth General Directorate for International Organisations and International Security and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dimitrios Giannakakis.
• The General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, Dr. Konstantinos P. Balomenos.
• The Director of the A5 Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Plenipotentiary A’, Mr Dimitrios Karambalis.
• The Minister Plenipotentiary B’ and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexandros Papaioannou.
• The Director of the A’ Branch of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), Major General Konstantinos Gounaris.
• The Director of the V’ Branch of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS), Major General Konstantinos Kolokotronis.
• The Chief of Foreign Nationals and Border Protection Branch of the Hellenic Police Headquarters, Major General, HP, Dimitrios Malios.
• The Lawyer — International Relations Expert, Dr. Ioannis Papafloratos.
• The Associate Professor of the University of Plymouth, Dr. Fotios Moustakis.
• The Professor of the University of Piraeus, Dr. Athanasios Platias.
• The Former Inspector of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. Pantelis Economou.
