Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-31

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] ND leader briefed by DM, military leadership

[01] ND leader briefed by DM, military leadership

In statements after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, both Samaras and Venizelos said that the country's financial difficulties did not impact Greece's defense and foreign policy, stressing that the greatest possible national consensus is required.

Venizelos said that it is his institutional obligation to brief the main opposition leader, without any confidentiality obstacles, on defence policy issues, adding that such contacts will continue.

He also stressed the need for national unity and the largest possible consensus so as to preserve the battle worthiness of the Hellenic Armed Forces and its morale, and to boost the country's diplomatic clout.

Venizelos further assured that the country's foreign and defense policy will not suffer for economic and fiscal reasons.

Samaras, in turn, said that they discussed the critical matters concerning the Armed Forces "in these critical hours", adding that he briefed the national defense ministry leadership on ND's solid view that the economic difficulties must, at all sacrifice, not impact the precious battle worthiness of the Armed Forces and its morale, "which requires consensus, attention and meritocracy".

"I believe that, in these difficult hours, on such matters we, together, can monitor the developments and co-formulate views," Samaras said, adding that such serious matters should not become the object of the inter-party differences.

Asked to comment on a pre-dawn attack by Israeli defense forces on a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza, Samaras expressed strong concern over the grievous incident.

Caption: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras (R) and Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos (L). ANA-MPA/Symela Pantzartzi

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