Greece has signed armaments programs worth 14 billion euros in the last two years, but has not provided a single euro to the national defense industry, SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras charged on Monday, calling it a “national crime”.
Tsipras made his statements after meeting with the administration and employees of Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) at its premises in Schimatari of central Greece.
The main opposition leader expressed his satisfaction that two armaments programs his government signed for were still active, namely the upgrade of 84 F-16s into Vipers and the upgrade of 4 maritime collaboration aircraft P3.
Greece will always need to keep its Armed Forces deterrence-ready, and “it is unthinkable its defensive armaments industry is not strengthened, more so that its discrediting is a political choice,” Tsipras said. Once Syriza returns to power, he said, it will renegotiate agreements so that the Greek industry participates in the new programs.
Employees told the party leader that EAB was capable both to produce Super Puma at a fraction of the cost and to assume maintenance projects for the C130s. Another issue they raised was lack of hiring for permanent staff since 2008-2009 and low interest when adverstised, as they paid salaries of 600-700 euros per month.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
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