Greek Defense Minister Dimitrios Avramopoulos Meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel

Greek Defense Minister Dimitrios Avramopoulos made the following statement following his meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, on Thursday, August 21, 2014:


“I have just concluded a meeting with my friend, the Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel. It was the third visit at the Pentagon, during my two tenures as Minister of Defense.


Together with my counterpart we had the opportunity to reaffirm once more the excellent level of Greek-US defense cooperation. We concluded a series of crucial matters that form the Road Map of Greek-US defense cooperation, providing solutions to pending issues.


Above all, we discussed the emerging and critical geopolitical situation in our region, the geostrategic role of Greece as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region, as well as the role that Greece can assume in the name of international legitimacy.


We agreed that, now more than ever, the defense cooperation between the U.S. and Greece has a substantial and strategic character.


Of course, we will discuss these issues once again in a multilateral framework at the NATO Summit in Wales in September.


Greece, beyond the economic crisis, which we are gradually leaving behind, emerges again as an important pillar of stability in a region that has passed the threshold of the most critical phase in its modern history. The Greek Government is struggling to overcome the crisis, and create a promising future for the Greek people and our country."


Earlier the same day, Minister Avramopoulos laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.