In the framework of its activities, the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations (GDNDPIR) of the Ministry of National Defence (MoD) continued its initiative to strengthen bilateral defence relations between Greece and the Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia).
Specifically, officers from the General Directorates of Defence Policy of the Greek and Slovak Ministries of Defence, headed by the General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos and his Slovak counterpart Mr Jan Mozola, on Thursday 08 June 2023, visited the formations of the Greek Armed Forces in Evros river region.
The purpose of the visit was the on ground information of the Slovak delegation by officers of the Units which played a key role in addressing the migration crisis of February – March 2020 on the way they handled the crisis, but also on the current situation in relation to the migration issue. In this light, the two delegations visited:
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The headquarters of the XII Mechanised Infantry Division in Alexandroupolis.
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The airport of Alexandroupolis, where a presentation was made by the airport commander, Mr Stelios Zantanidis, on the role played by the airport in the wider region. They were also informed about the operational capabilities of the Regional Centre for Integrated Border Management and Migration by general Paschalis Syritoudis of the Hellenic Police.
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The port of Alexandroupolis, where a presentation was made by the US Head of Mission in the region Mr Andre Cameron on the geostrategic role and operational use of the port by NATO.
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The headquarters of the XVI Mechanised Infantry Division in Didymoteicho.
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The Border Guard Post at Koipoi which is part of the Area of Responsibility of 31st Mechanised Brigade.
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The checkpoint of Kastanies (“Border Inspection Post-1”) on the northeastern border of our country with Türkiye.
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The border fence in the Kastanies area.
At noon on the same day, a lunch was hosted in honour of the Slovak delegation, where the General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos and his counterpart, Mr Jan Mozola, had the opportunity to exchange views on the migration issue in Europe and to speak with Armed Forces officers operating in the wider Evros region.
On Friday 09 June 2023, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, his counterpart Mr Jan Mozola, and the Ambassador of Slovakia to Athens Ms Marcela Hanusova, together with their delegations, held bilateral consultations at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defence in Athens. The main pillars of the debate were:
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The analysis of the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the wider geopolitical environment.
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The security situation in the Western Balkans.
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The security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
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The deepening of defence relations between Greece and Slovakia as well as the strengthening of their bilateral cooperation within the framework of NATO and the EU.
Taking into account that during the outbreak of the migration crisis in 2015, Slovakia and the other Visegrad countries opposed and targeted Greece on how it managed the migration issue, this action is characterised as of the highest national importance.
In particular, this action was an excellent opportunity to:
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Highlight Greece’s role in tackling the migration problem (compared to 2015, a 95 % reduction in migration flows has been noted), and its contribution to European security.
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Help Visegrad officials realize that Europe’s eastern borders, both on land and at sea, are identical to those of Greece and that during the crisis of March 2020 in Evros, Greece defended Europe’s borders in the most effective way.
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Provide an update (3 years later) and internationalise our experience, as well as communicate useful conclusions drawn from the migration crisis of February-March 2020.
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Improve bilateral defence relations with the Visegrad countries and create a positive narrative for Greece, in relation to its contribution to addressing the migration issue, but also to standing as a pillar of stability and security in the Balkan and Eastern Mediterranean region.
The same initiative had been performed by the GDNDPIR/MoD in March and April 2023, with respective delegations from the Ministries of Defence of the Czech Republic and Hungary.
