Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense

The launching ceremony for the frigate “Nearchos,” the second of the three FDI frigates (known as Belh@rra), acquired by the Hellenic Navy, is currently underway. The event took place at the Naval Group facilities in Lorient, France, attended by Greece’s Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias.

Members of Greece's Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA), in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Monday announced a decision to extend the term of the chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (HNDS), Gen. Konstantinos Floros, for another year.

The term of Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), General Konstantinos Floros, looks set to be extended for another year.

An announcement is expected after Monday's meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) which will be chaired by conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The first results of the Hellenic Coast Guard's ongoing operation to secure Greek maritime borders in the eastern Aegean - compiled by the National Integrated Maritime Surveillance System and seen by Kathimerini - show that from March 1 to 11 a total of 43 boats carrying 1,527 illegal migrants were intercepted by coast guard vessels, aided by navy and land forces.

Lieutenant General Stefanos Kolokouris has been appointed the new chief of the Hellenic Fire Service following a session of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA).

The case file of an ongoing investigation into the acquisition of a C4I security system and surveillance system by Greece for the Olympic Games in 2004 will be sent to parliament in the coming days, as the name of a former minister has come up during the probe, according to information.

Failure to follow procedures and lapses at key decision-making centers were the main mistakes made during the Imia crisis, which brought Greece and neighboring Turkey to the brink of war in 1996.

The same shortcomings became painfully evident on Sunday after a Turkish gunboat carrying Turkey's Chief of General Staff sailed into Greek waters and around the eastern Aegean islets.

The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) convened on Friday for an emergency session that resulted in a decision to change the heads of the branches of the armed forces.

The new commander of the Hellenic Army is Lieutenant-General Alkiviadis Stefanis, replacing Vassilieios Tellidis.

Former Prime Minister Costas Simitis and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday both heaped heavy criticism on former Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, appearing as witnesses at the latter?s appeal trial against his lengthy sentence for money laundering.

Former Prime Minister Costas Simitis and current PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos are due to be among the witnesses to take to the stand on Wednesday in the appeal of ex-Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos against his sentence for money laundering.

Former socialist ministers Vasso Papandreou and Yiannos Papantoniou are due to testify on May 20.