Dendias, Turkey and the “bad time”

Some of the reactions that followed are not surprising – Nikos Dendias probably expected them too, basically warning that the Greek diplomatic and defense planning should not be disoriented. The Minister of Defence, speaking to the Parliament’s committee that is examining the bill on the commonality in the Armed Forces, emphasized that it is necessary for Athens’ attention to be focused on Ankara and not on Skopje.

It is obvious that the Minister of Defense “reads” in a different way the Greek-Turkish approach opened by the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting, as – insisting on the further strengthening of the Armed Forces – he said: “I always say don’t let the bad time come. But the bad time may come. And of course the bad time will not come from North Macedonia, the mouse that has been roaring for the last few days. It will come from a country with ten times the population, with four times the GDP, which means that if we don’t realize that we have to be at an amazingly good level, we won’t make it, and we all have a big responsibility towards that.”

Against ADAE – EYP

Developments will be brought by the refusal of the EYP to implement the decision of the SC by informing the ADAE of the reason for the monitoring of Nikos Androulakis. I remind you that the EYP contented itself with referring the ADAE to the prosecutor’s order by which Androulakis’ privacy had been lifted “for reasons of national security”, which only mentions the telephone number that is being monitored and the period of it.

And this despite the fact that the CoE ruled that the ADAE should evaluate the legality of the surveillance. It gives the impression that there were again leaks about “foreign services”, despite the fact that the Ministry of Defense never claimed anything like this to the ADAE. Whereas if there had been an issue of the involvement of a similar service, the EYP would have reported it to the independent Authority from 2022 when the investigation began. After all, the Prime Minister himself had stated that Androulakis “is absolutely no danger to the national security of the country and should never have been under surveillance”.

Plenary meetings and councils

All these are things that we will find before us again in the continuation of this case. First of all, the ADAE Board of Directors meets on Wednesday. Where, unexpectedly, he will discuss what his reaction will be to the response (or rather, to the non-response) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If it will persist, that is, by sending a new letter to the Service calling on it to implement the court decision, if it will impose a fine or if it will… throw up its hands and accept its defeat. I remind you that there the majority is extremely fragile. However, if they follow the third path, the members of the ADAE will potentially be held accountable, along with the EYP, since it is certain that Androulakis will pursue it judicially. And before the case reaches the court, it will have reached the Administrative Compliance Council for Judicial Decisions, which has the authority to impose and disciplinary sanctions.

In the CoE the composition

However, the CoE has another related issue to resolve. The unforgettable midnight change of the members of the Board of Directors of the ADAE by the Conference of the Presidents of the Parliament, twenty-four hours before the independent authority met to impose a fine on the EYP. Yesterday, therefore, the annulment petition filed by the DSA was heard. With the basic argument that the constitutional requirement for consent and the majority of 3/5, which in the 27-member composition is 16.2, was not respected. Well, 17 votes were required for the election of new members and the 16 of ND and Hellenic Solution are not enough. The premise seems simple. But the assessment is that it will be judged… on balance.

Optimism for the Monastery of Chora

I had announced to you that there is a discussion with Ankara about the issue of the Monastery of Chora. Yesterday, Giorgos Gerapetritis appeared, therefore, optimistic, estimating that there will be a re-evaluation of the Turkish government, following the request of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Erdoğan that the Monastery of Chora remain a museum in its characterization “and become once again the property of humanity, with the possibility of anyone, regardless of religion, to be able to enjoy the goods contained within the Monastery”. Assurances were given that 95% of the important works of art in the Monastery can be visited as usual. The only open issue concerns only three covered mosaics that the government, in cooperation with the Patriarchate, requests that they also be uncovered and visited when it is not prayer time at the mosque.

Premiere of digital education

Mitsotakis together with Kyriakos Pierrakakis yesterday presented the digital school and the digital tutoring center in a mountainous and remote village, Rizomata Imathia. It is a platform that will enable digital lessons for students in remote areas (such as Gavdos) where from September a hybrid teaching system will be implemented, with teachers for the basic courses and distance learning for the rest, while there will also be information app for parents. While the digital tutorial will have lessons saved (for the kids to watch like they watch Netflix) except for the 3rd Lyceum which will have regular live viewing. Completely free, of course.

Chiefs of Staff

Giorgos Karatzaferis had already given some indications with his statements that, after his removal from LAOS, he discreetly once again supports his old party roof. And to these is added the event of the unveiling of the statue of the ancestor of the chief Athanasios Karatzaferis in Potamia, Arcadia. Where two “blue people” have been invited: Angelos Syrigos who is expected to be one of the main speakers. And Makis Voridis who was invited to make the unveiling.