Panos Kammenos

Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS) Chief General Mikhail Kostarakos are visiting flood-stricken areas along the course of the Evros River. The itinerary includes visits to Lagyna, Soufli and Poros. The latest reports show that the situation appears to be stabilizing in the area.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday agreed to boost bilateral ties in a telephone conversation during which the latter invited the new Greek premier to an event in Moscow in May to mark the victory over Nazism.

Sparks also flew within the NATO framework this week as the new Greek government attempts to find its European and international “groove”, with Athens on Thursday angrily responding to the German defence minister’s comment of “Greeece jeopardizing its position in NATO by approaching Russian interests.”

I guess the big smiles that appeared on the faces of many Turks after the electoral victory of Syriza in Greece were frozen when they heard that Alexis Tsipras had forged a coalition with the right-wing Independent Greeks party. What?s more, the first thing that the Independent Greeks leader, Panos Kammenos, did as Athens? new defense minister was to resurrect an old tension with Turkey. 

Greece's new government remains committed to its NATO role despite close ties with Russia that have worried its allies, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos told AFP on Wednesday.

Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos held consecutive meetings on Tuesday with the US ambassador to Greece David Pearce and with the Russian ambassador Andrey Maslov.

The armed forces? internal affairs department has found evidence of wrongdoing in two military procurement cases and the government will forward this to the judiciary, Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said Tuesday after meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

 ANEL leader says his MPs have right to vote according to their conscience

In the first sign of a disagreement within the new SYRIZA-led government, the leader of junior coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL), Panos Kammenos, indicated that the party?s 13 MPs would not back a bill granting citizenship to the children of immigrants living in Greece.

Conservatives in the European Parliament want it to vote next week to condemn a right-wing party in Greece?s new leftist-led coalition government, comparing it to an EU rebuke to Austria 15 years ago.

Right-wing anti-austerity Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader Panos Kammenos told private ANT1 television that he does not agree with the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government's stand on giving second generation immigrants citizenship. "We are, as Independent Greeks, a parliamentary group of 13 deputies and vote according to the principles by which we were voted in Parliament.