DM holds briefing on NATO Lisbon summit

Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Monday referred to “intense negotiations” in the first half of 2011 as regards the new command structure and NATO’s future anti-missile defence.

Speaking at a press conference on the outcome of NATO’s summit meeting in Lisbon, Venizelos referred to a new command structure in the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean, stressing that it should be simple, smart and functional, adding that criteria set should be the same with the rest regions under the operational responsibility of NATO.

As regards to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, Venizelos said NATO will be mainly limited to a political role after March 2014, emphasising negotiation and dialogue with groups that distance themselves from those defined by the alliance as hostile.

Referring to the anti-missile defence shield, he said the Summit meeting welcomed a US initiative as a national contribution to the existing NATO system, with which Russia will have a comprehensive operational cooperation.

Responding to a relevant question, Venizelos said no request has been made to store nuclear weapons in Greece, adding that the country is participating in all training programmes, including those related with the specific issue.