Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis commented today on Greece's decision to provide support to Bulgaria's air defense, announced last week by Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, ANA-MPA reported, BTA reported.
Dendias announced on March 6 that, by decision of the Greek Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense, a Greek Patriot battery will be deployed in a suitable area in Northern Greece, which will provide anti-missile defense for a large part of the territory of Bulgaria. In addition, a pair of F-16 fighter jets will be deployed at an airport in Northern Greece with the exclusive task of providing additional protection for Bulgaria.
During a briefing today, Marinakis indicated that Greece is providing funds and personnel for the defense of Bulgaria after a request from the neighboring country.
“This initiative does not in the slightest affect the ability to provide missile defense to the Greek territory“, the spokesman stressed.
He added that by a decision of the Governmental National Security Council (KYSEA) “the “Patriot“ battery was transferred to a suitable area within the northern part of the Greek territory for missile defense coverage of a large part of the territory of Bulgaria“.
“In addition, two F-16 aircraft were deployed to an airport in northern Greece with the exclusive mission of providing additional coverage to Bulgaria. For effective coordination, two high-ranking Air Force officers are being transferred to the Bulgarian Armed Forces Operations Center in Sofia“, Marinakis said.
When asked about the deployment of Turkish F-16 fighter jets in the occupied northern part of Cyprus The government spokesman said Greece has a duty to respond and defend Cyprus and "what happens in the pseudo-state does not affect Greece's decision to defend Cyprus."
Six Turkish F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems were deployed to the northern part of Cyprus from today, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Turkish Defense Ministry said earlier today.
Cyprus has been divided into two parts since 1974, after Turkey occupied more than a third of the island in response to a coup aimed at unifying the island with Greece. In 1983, the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was declared in the occupied part, which remains unrecognized by the international community except for Turkey.