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Russia-Greece defense cooperation to be continued — Greek defense minister

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos believes that Moscow and Athens should also cooperate in fighting against terrorism

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. The existing programs of Russian-Greek defense cooperation will be maintained, Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos told reporters on Wednesday.

Kammenos, who arrived in Moscow to attend an international security conference, met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu.

"We have confirmed the two countries’ friendly relations. The existing defense cooperation programs continue, they will be maintained," Kammenos said.

The two defense ministers also exchanged views on the main problem concerning both states.

"It’s the Islamic fundamentalism issue. Greece’s stance is that terrorism is our common enemy. We believe that we should cooperate in this sphere in order to fight this threat. As Russia’s friends and EU and NATO members we will do everything possible to this end," Kammenos said.

The Greek defense minister also said at a meeting with Shoigu that the development of jihadism in the Middle East and in North Africa makes cooperation necessary. "This is the stance that we defend also within NATO," he added.

Greece has paid dearly for the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia and that hit the EU itself, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos told journalists.

"The sanctions that Europe imposed on Russia have bound Europe itself. Greece has paid very dearly for these sanctions. We will try to exert every effort for the sanctions’ lifting both for the benefit of Russia and the European Union," Kamemnos said.

Kammenos is in Moscow on a two-day visit following an invitation from his Russian counterpart Shoigu. Kammenos is also scheduled to speak at the 4th Conference on International Security to be held in the Russian capital on Thursday and Friday (April 16 and 17). The topic of this year’s conference is the challenges and prospects of global security.

According to previous reports, 15 defense ministers from different regions of the world will attend the Moscow Conference. Greece, as far as is known, is the only NATO country to be represented by its defence minister at the forum.