NATO update

24 March 2023 Update NATO Secretary General launches his Annual Report for 2022 Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on 21 March 2023 launched his annual report for 2022, covering all aspects of the Alliance’s work over the past year. As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its second year, Mr Stoltenberg praised the “steely resistance of the Ukrainian people” and NATO Allies’ “unprecedented support for Ukraine”. He said that President Putin “wanted less NATO, but he has got exactly the opposite: more NATO”, underlining that Finland and Sweden’s accession “will make them safer, our Alliance stronger, and demonstrate that NATO’s door remains open”. READ MORE Secretary General welcomes progress on Finland’s road to NATO membership Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen to NATO Headquarters on 20 March 2023 for talks on Finland’s progress toward membership in the Alliance. READ MORE Allies take further steps to establish NATO Innovation Fund At the 2022 Madrid Summit, 22 Allies launched the NATO Innovation Fund, the world’s first multi-sovereign venture capital fund. Since then, significant steps have been made to fully establish the Fund by NATO’s Vilnius Summit in July 2023. READ MORE Secretary General thanks Norway for key contributions to NATO security On 24 March 2023 Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to NATO Headquarters. They discussed NATO’s role in the protection of undersea critical infrastructure, which is vital for the security of Allies. READ MORE In a historic first, Swiss defence minister joins meeting of NATO's North Atlantic Council Viola Amherd, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, visited NATO Headquarters on 22 March 2023 for talks with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and to meet with NATO ambassadors. READ MORE Secretary General welcomes Foreign Minister of Iraq to NATO During the visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to NATO Headquarters, the Secretary General thanked Iraq for its commitment to its partnership with NATO, particularly with respect to fighting international terrorism and promoting stability in the region. READ MORE NATO Secretary General welcomes multinational fleet of tanker transport On 23 March 2023, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the launch of a Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft fleet that is "now ready for a full range of missions" at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. READ MORE NATO Secretary General to Party of European Socialists: crucial to sustain support to Ukraine NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg participated in a meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES) on 23 March 2023, where he emphasised the importance of continuing to support Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, both now and for the long term. READ MORE NATO Military Committee heads to JFC Brunssum as the Alliance boosts deterrence and defence on its way to multi-domain operations On 23 March 2023, the NATO Military Committee visited Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands. The Allied and Invitee Military Representatives were briefed on ongoing work strands and deliverables to be presented at the Vilnius Summit in July. READ MORE NATO Deputy Secretary General emphasises importance of adopting new technologies rapidly and responsibly Today’s new technologies are developing at a dizzying pace, and we all have a role to play in developing and deploying them responsibly and ethically. This was the message Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană gave during the launch of the NATO Science and Technology Organization’s 2023-2043 Trends Report. READ MORE Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Chair of the NATO Military Committee visit NATO Mission Iraq On 20-21 March 2023, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Christopher G. Cavoli, visited NATO Mission Iraq (NMI). They reviewed the mission’s activities and met with a range of Iraqi officials and representatives of the international community. READ MORE NATO Deputy Secretary General at the Schuman Forum: security is our shared responsibility NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană addressed the Schuman Security and Defence Forum in Brussels on 21 March 2023, underlining the importance of working with like-minded partners and organisations in defence of the rules-based international order. READ MORE NATO Deputy Secretary General: transatlantic and Middle East security are interlinked NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană delivered a virtual lecture to the Omani National Defense College on 20 March 2023, stressing that in a more interconnected world, security is more interlinked. READ MORE US Marines and Finnish Navy hone logistics skills Logistics is the art of moving supplies and people to where they need to be. Without logistics, armies wouldn’t have fuel for trucks, parts to repair them, or soldiers to drive them. It’s a military fundamental, and that’s why NATO forces regularly practise this crucial discipline with their Allies and partners. Recently, the US Marine Corps teamed up with the Finnish Navy to train in this discipline – but with a twist. The icy, island-studded waters of the Finnish archipelago are uniquely challenging to supply lines. WATCH VIDEO

NATO HQ, Blvd Leopold III
1110 Brussels, Belgium

NATO Secretary General meets with the Prime Minister of Norway The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, met with the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, at NATO HQ today (Friday 24 March). Click here to download the joint press conference by NATO Secretary General and the Norwegian Prime Minister. Click here for the transcript, and here for more information about his visit.

Exercise Slovak Shield 2023 Troops from NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Slovakia are participating in an exercise aimed at defending the country from attack. Soldiers from Czechia, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States participated in Slovak Shield, an annual exercise that focuses on integrating the firepower and capabilities of Allied forces in a collective defence scenario. Mechanised infantry, helicopters and ground troops worked together over the course of two weeks, sharing tactics while streamlining communications. Led by Czechia, the battlegroup includes troops from Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO decided to establish four new multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, while upgrading other battlegroups into brigade-sized formations. These actions significantly bolster NATO's ability to deter and defend against any aggression in the eastern part of the Alliance. Slovak Shield 2023 runs from 12 to 24 March. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes Allied troops working together, sharing tactics while streamlining communications and interviews with Major General from the Slovak Armed Forces and Lieutenant Colonel from the Czech Army. NATO Secretary General welcomes multinational fleet of tanker transport NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed today (23 March 2023) the launch of a Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft fleet that is "now ready for a full range of missions" at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. The Secretary General attended a ceremony to mark the initial operational capability of the aircraft fleet, together with Dutch Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren and European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton. Click here to download the remarks by the NATO Secretary General, the Dutch Minister of Defence and the European Commissioner for the Internal Market. as well as b-rolls of the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. Click here for the webstory and the transcript of NATO Secretary General's remarks. US Marines and Finnish Navy hone logistics skills Logistics is the art of moving supplies and people to where they need to be. Without logistics, armies wouldn’t have fuel for trucks, parts to repair them, or soldiers to drive them. It’s a military fundamental, and that’s why NATO forces regularly practise this crucial discipline with their Allies and partners. Recently, the US Marine Corps teamed up with the Finnish Navy to practise this crucial discipline – but with a twist. The icy, island-studded waters of the Finnish archipelago are uniquely challenging to supply lines. Working with the Finnish troops, the US Marines learned how to move supplies using helicopters, transport aircraft and small, stealthy boats, as well as the burly transport trucks they brought from the United States in cold weather conditions. The US Marines deployed to Finland for three months last fall – the longest stint the US military’s amphibious branch has spent in Finland to date. It signals a deepening relationship with Finland, a long-time NATO partner that applied for membership of the Alliance in 2022, together with Sweden. Deployments like this help Finland to continue familiarising itself with Allied tactics and techniques as the country prepares to join the Alliance as a full member. Click here to download the video. You can also watch the video on YouTube. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of US Marines conducting aerial and ground logistics operations as part of Exercise Freezing Winds 22, and Finnish conscripts engaging in simulated firefights, as well as interviews with US Marine Corps and Finnish Navy officers. Dutch F-35s and Polish MiG-29s train together over Poland as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission Dutch F-35 Lightning II and Polish MiG-29 Fulcrum pilots showed off their flying skills during a demonstration over the Baltic Sea on 21 March 2023. Directed by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany, the fighters scrambled to intercept a Polish Air Force CASA C-295M transport aircraft. They performed a training interception, flying in tight formation as they shadowed the CASA C-295M transport aircraft. Along the way, French Air and Space Force Rafale fighters joined in, flying from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, where they are currently assigned to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Polish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons also joined the sortie, demonstrating NATO’s ability to control fighter aircraft from different nations during an interception. The Royal Netherlands Air Force deployed a detachment of F-35s to Malbork Air Base in Poland on 30 January 2023 as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission. From there, the Dutch pilots trained extensively with their NATO Allies while remaining on alert for Air Policing scrambles. Since their deployment, they have scrambled four times to intercept Russian military aircraft passing close to NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea. Allied aircraft routinely scramble to intercept aircraft that fail to communicate with air traffic controllers or broadcast a transponder code. Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of Allied jets taxiing, taking off and performing a training interception, as well as interviews with Polish Air Force Brigadier General Ireneusz Nowak and a Royal Netherlands Air Force pilot. NATO Secretary General launches his Annual Report for 2022 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday (21 March 2023) launched his annual report for 2022, covering all aspects of the Alliance’s work over the past year. Click here to download the press conference by NATO Secretary General followed by a Q&A session with journalists. Click here to read more about the NATO Secretary General's Annual Report 2022. It is available in English, French, Russian and Ukrainian. Click here to download B-ROLLS related to NATO's operations and exercises in 2022.

The Obama Foundation,update

Hi there, As President Obama once famously said after hitting a 3-point shot on the basketball court, "That's what I do!" At the Obama Foundation, our mission is to inspire and empower people to make a difference in their communities and around the world—that’s what we do!    That’s why we believe building the Obama Presidential Center is not only a historic opportunity to celebrate the leadership of President and Mrs. Obama, but an important moment to showcase the community that made them who they are.     Our dreams for the Center are big—as big as our dreams for the people who will walk its gardens, seek new worlds in its library and become the next generation of civic leaders in its spaces dedicated to collaboration and learning. And it wouldn’t be the Obama Presidential Center without a place to shoot some hoops. The fourth main building on the campus will be a home for recreation, community programming, and events.   Your continued support of the Obama Foundation helps us achieve these dreams. And your special contribution today will help unite a new generation of leaders to make history once more.   The Obama Presidential Center will belong to us all. It will be a place to reflect and grow, to connect and create. And it will be a place to honor history while inspiring young people to write chapters of their own.   We couldn’t be more excited to share this dream with you. Thank you for being with us on this journey and for your support of the Obama Foundation. —The Obama Foundation    Donate to empower rising leaders bringing hope to their communities. DONATE

Η απάντηση του Ευάγγελου Βενιζέλου στο αφιέρωμα / ερώτημα της Καθημερινής της Κυριακής , «Ελλάδα είναι …»:

 25 Μαρτίου 2023

 

Η απάντηση του Ευάγγελου Βενιζέλου στο αφιέρωμα / ερώτημα της Καθημερινής της Κυριακής , «Ελλάδα είναι …»:

 

Ελλάδα είναι οι αντιφάσεις της, γοητευτικές και βασανιστικές αδιακρίτως. Είναι οι άνθρωποί της και αυτό που προκύπτει σε πείσμα των ανθρώπων της. Είναι η Ιστορία της, οικεία και απρόσιτη ταυτοχρόνως. Είναι μια διαρκής εναλλαγή πένθους και χαράς. Μια σισύφεια σύγκρουση προόδου και καθήλωσης. Μια ατελείωτη άσκηση πατριδογνωσίας. Ένα προνόμιο και ένα καθήκον. Ελλάδα είναι η Πατρίδα μας. Το προνόμιό μας να μνημονεύουμε τον Διονύσιο Σολωμό και να ψελίζουμε «Tα μάτια μου δεν είδαν τόπον ενδοξότερον από τούτο το αλωνάκι.»

 

ΑΗΕPA:Celebrating Greece's Independence!

 



Happy Greek Independence Day!
From the Desk of the Supreme President

March 25, 2023

Dear AHEPA Family, Fellow Hellenes and Philhellenes,

In 1821, after nearly 400 years of Ottoman oppression, the Greeks bound together under a flag bearing the cross to fight for freedom and justice in the land which gifted the world democracy. Like the revolution which took place in America 45 years earlier, Greece would embark on a journey forever linking our two countries in their struggle for freedom and independence.














 

The founding fathers of the United States of America drew upon the ideals and principles forged in ancient Greece in constructing our nation. Thomas Jefferson called ancient Greece "the light which led ourselves out of Gothic darkness." All who cherish a free and democratic government are beneficiaries of Greece's legacy and thus should consider themselves Philhellenes. This is why Americans fought alongside the Greeks during their struggle for freedom in the Greek War of Independence, most notably Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe. In so doing, many made the ultimate sacrifice. The Greeks received the support of Jefferson, President James Monroe, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, and U.S. Representatives Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. Additionally, American Philhellenes rallied support for the war effort by holding fundraising events in several American cities.






Throughout history, Greece and the United States have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to face the challenges of an ever-changing world. Greece had been allied with the United States in every major conflict of the 20th century. The strong alliance continues into the 21st century. Greece, via NSA Souda Bay, Crete, the port of Alexandroupolis, and other military capabilities and bases, has contributed significantly to NATO and United States missions, including peacekeeping operations, in an ever-increasingly important region of the world. United States government officials have called Greece "a pillar of stability" in the Eastern Mediterranean region and relations maintain an “all-time” high level. Today, we see Greece standing up for democracy and freedom as those ideals and values are under attack by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. We sincerely thank our public officials at the federal, state, and local levels of government, including President Joe Biden (proclamation) and the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues (statement); who recognize the significance of Greek Independence, the close and enduring partnership between the United States and Greece, and the contributions of the Greek American community to society.








 

In celebration of the 202nd anniversary of Greece's Independence, AHEPA family chapters, districts, and the Greek diaspora, are working together to promote this important day in our Hellenic history. We will secure proclamations from state and local governments, organize flag-raising ceremonies at various State Capitols and City Halls, and lay wreaths at memorial sites. Indeed, AHEPA family members worldwide proudly promote and sustain the celebration of this historic day for all Hellenes.

Thank you to every Hellene and Philhellene for your dedicated efforts to spread the Hellenic spirit worldwide!

Ζήτω ή Ελλάδα!


 
Jimmy Kokotas

Supreme President

Πρωθυπουργού Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη δήλωσις κατά την άφιξή του στη Σύνοδο του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου

23 Μαρτίου 2023

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο του Μαρτίου θα έχει ως κύριο ζήτημα τα θέματα τα οποία αφορούν την ανταγωνιστικότητα της ευρωπαϊκής οικονομίας.

Η Ελλάδα προσέρχεται σε αυτήν τη συζήτηση από μία πολύ ενισχυμένη θέση σε σχέση με το πού βρισκόταν το 2019. Με μία οικονομία η οποία αναπτύσσεται γρήγορα, με την ανεργία να αποκλιμακώνεται, το δημόσιο χρέος ως ποσοστό του ΑΕΠ να μειώνεται με τον γρηγορότερο ρυθμό σε όλη την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και με την πατρίδα μας, πια, να είναι πρωταθλήτρια σε σχέση με τα ιστορικά στατιστικά στην προσέλκυση ξένων επενδύσεων.

Αυτό επιτρέπει στην Ελληνική Κυβέρνηση να μπορεί να εξακολουθεί να στηρίζει τους πιο αδύναμους συμπολίτες μας απέναντι στην εισαγόμενη ακρίβεια, αλλά μας κάνει και πιο αισιόδοξους ότι οι καλύτερες μέρες της ελληνικής οικονομίας είναι ακόμα μπροστά μας.

Βεβαίως, η Ευρώπη αντιμετωπίζει μία σειρά από μεγάλες οικονομικές προκλήσεις. Δεν αναφέρομαι μόνο στην εισαγόμενη ακρίβεια, η οποία είναι αποτέλεσμα της απρόκλητης ρωσικής εισβολής στην Ουκρανία, αναφέρομαι και στα ζητήματα τα οποία έχουν να κάνουν με τα υψηλά επιτόκια δανεισμού, μία αύξηση των επιτοκίων την οποία η Ευρωπαϊκή Κεντρική Τράπεζα κρίνει απαραίτητη προκειμένου να συγκρατήσουμε τον πληθωρισμό.

Γνωρίζουμε ότι αυτή η αύξηση των επιτοκίων πιέζει και τους Έλληνες δανειολήπτες, καθώς τους υποχρεώνει να διαθέσουν μεγαλύτερο κομμάτι του διαθέσιμου εισοδήματός τους για τις δανειακές τους εξυπηρετήσεις.

Όμως θέλω να τονίσω ότι η άλλη όψη του νομίσματος, της προόδου που έχουμε κάνει τα τελευταία χρόνια, είναι ότι οι τράπεζές μας είναι πια ισχυρές. Και μπροστά στην παγκόσμια χρηματοπιστωτική καταιγίδα η οποία ξετυλίχθηκε τις τελευταίες εβδομάδες, θέλω να διαβεβαιώσω, ακόμα μία φορά, όλους τους Έλληνες καταθέτες ότι το ελληνικό τραπεζικό σύστημα είναι ισχυρό και ότι οι καταθέσεις τους είναι προστατευμένες.

Και βέβαια, καθώς η Ελλάδα θα εξακολουθεί να κάνει βήματα προόδου και να αποκτά -επιτέλους- την πολυπόθητη επενδυτική βαθμίδα, θα μπορούμε να προσβλέπουμε ότι και το κόστος δανεισμού για τις ελληνικές επιχειρήσεις, για τα ελληνικά νοικοκυριά, για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία θα μειωθεί, με αποτέλεσμα να μην είμαστε τόσο αρνητικά εξαρτημένοι από οποιαδήποτε αύξηση επιτοκίων καθορίζεται από την Ευρωπαϊκή Κεντρική Τράπεζα. 

Πρωθυπουργού Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη συνέντευξις μετά την ολοκλήρωση των εργασιών του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου στις Βρυξέλλες

24 Μαρτίου 2023

Αλεξάνδρα Βουδούρη (Καθημερινή): Καλησπέρα κύριε Πρόεδρε, σας ευχαριστώ πολύ. Έχει ξεκινήσει εδώ και πολύ καιρό η συζήτηση για την αλλαγή του πλαισίου της νέας οικονομικής διακυβέρνησης, μετά από μία μακρά περίοδο δημοσιονομικής χαλαρότητας, λόγω της πανδημίας και του πολέμου στην Ουκρανία. Είπατε, χθες, ότι η Ελλάδα προσέρχεται σε αυτή τη συζήτηση με μια πιο ενισχυμένη θέση από ό,τι το 2019. Τι ακριβώς σημαίνει αυτό ως προς την ουσία της συζήτησης;

Και δεύτερον, αν μου επιτρέπετε, ποια είναι η θέση της Ελλάδας και ως προς τη σχετική πρόταση της Κομισιόν και το πιο βασικό πόσοι την ασπάζονται τη θέση μας; Ευχαριστώ πολύ.

Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης: Η Ελλάδα υποστηρίζει επί της αρχής την πρόταση της Κομισιόν για το νέο πλαίσιο των δημοσιονομικών κανόνων. Η πρόταση της Κομισιόν αναγνωρίζει ότι πρέπει να έχουμε μεγαλύτερη ευελιξία ως κράτη-μέλη, να διαπραγματευόμαστε μαζί με την Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή μία λογική αποκλιμάκωση του δημοσίου χρέους χωρίς να είμαστε περιορισμένοι από ασφυκτικά σκληρούς αριθμητικούς κανόνες.

Την πρόταση αυτή φαίνεται να την ασπάζονται τα περισσότερα κράτη-μέλη, όμως είχα την ευκαιρία να τονίσω και στο σημερινό Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο ότι απαιτείται πολύ πιο γρήγορη πρόοδος. Οι νέοι δημοσιονομικοί κανόνες πρέπει να συμφωνηθούν πριν το τέλος του έτους.

APEC update

 

We are pleased to launch the APEC 2023 Priorities Website presenting the three policy priorities of the United States host year under the theme, ‘Creating a Sustainable Future for All.’ Explore the website to learn more about this year’s priorities of Interconnected, Innovative and Inclusive.