Greece, despite the fact that it is located “on the perimeter of the fire,” is today an absolutely safe country, assured the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis in the context of the Athens Defence Conference organized by the Delphi Economic Forum, in cooperation with the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).
As the Minister characteristically stated, the country constitutes a pillar of stability in a particularly unstable geopolitical region, however international developments require constant vigilance and preparation against new forms of threats.
“Greece is on the perimeter of the fire,” he said, “as there are many open fronts: in the north the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East the ongoing conflicts. We are the natural and political boundary of the West. We monitor the borders with physical forces and with all technical means, so that entries from the perimeter of the fire to the interior are made in accordance with the rules.”
At the same time, he stressed that “we are one of the safest countries in Europe and we control, by land and sea, all movements and flows,” also noting that “the fence in Evros is a defensive project.”
Mr. Chrysochoidis expressed his concern about a series of risks emerging from armed conflicts, pointing out that the most important issue is what follows after the end of wars.
“Where there are wars that are ending, the next phase is arms trafficking,” he characteristically stated, warning that it is certain that thousands of weapons will move in different directions, fueling new hotspots of crime and instability. For this reason, as he stated, Europe must prepare in time and address the new challenges through coordinated action and close cooperation among states.
He also made special reference to organized crime, which, as he noted, now operates at an international level, trafficking not only weapons but also people and drugs. He pointed out that Greece, having one of the largest ports in Europe, is on the front line of this effort, as the trafficking of cocaine and other illegal cargo requires an organized response plan and constant operational readiness.
He also underlined that the Hellenic Police cooperates closely with international authorities, such as the DEA, Europol as well as with the competent services of the Gulf states, in order to tackle international criminal networks and strengthen the exchange of information.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Chrysochoidis stressed that developments require constant vigilance and a high level of readiness. “The permanent enemy of security is the lack of constant alertness and the lack of constant vigilance. This must prevail in a country's security strategy,” he stressed. Finally, the Minister pointed out that prevention and timely preparation are basic prerequisites for the protection of the country and its citizens.
The discussion was moderated by ERT journalist and news presenter, Andriana Paraskevopoulou.