Athens, 6 May 2025 (MIA) – We have fruitful cooperation with Greece and we will continue in that direction, both in the domain of special forces and in the domain of conventional forces. Greece is our great supporter on many grounds, says Chief of the Army General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, in an interview with MIA's Athens correspondent during his participation in DEFEA–Defence Exhibition Athens 2025, taking place Tuesday through Thursday.

The Chief of the Army General Staff attended the opening of DEFEA 25, which was addressed by the Greek Minister of Defence Nikos Dendias, among others. Lafchiski also visited the exhibitors' stands, and later on Tuesday he will meet with his Greek counterpart, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff General Dimitrios Choupis.

This is Major General Lafchiski's first participation in DEFEA, which takes place every two years. He told MIA that he is in Athens at the invitation of the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek Armed Forces.

"It is a large fair. From the information we received, it brings together 436 companies from 37 countries. Our focus will be on what is related to the development and modernization of the Army. I will give priority to companies exhibiting products from the domain of conventional forces, and of course from the domain of communication and information systems. I expect that we will have a fruitful day, today, as well as tomorrow, so that we can see the novelties and the direction in which the defence capacities are moving," said the Chief of the Army General Staff. 

Later on Tuesday he will meet with the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek Armed Forces, Dimitrios Choupis, to whom, as he told MIA, he will first of all extend gratitude for the Greek assistance after the tragic fire at the nightclub in Kochani.

"Among other things, I expect to host him next month, where I will officially thank him for the assistance after the tragic event in Kochani," Major General Lafchiski said. 

He noted that at today's meeting, in addition to impressions from the fair itself, the two will also discuss cooperation so far at the bilateral level, as well as within the NATO Alliance and other organizations of which the two countries are part.

"During this month, after our meeting at the military committee in Brussels, we will participate together in the B9 conference, which is organized by the Chiefs of General Staff of Southeast Europe. We have fruitful cooperation. Our cooperation will continue in that context and in that direction. It will continue in the domain of special forces, and it will continue in the domain of conventional forces. Greece is our great supporter on many grounds and of course this cooperation will continue in the future," Lafchiski said. 

In the interview with MIA, the Chief of the Army General Staff also mentioned international military exercises, announcing the next one that the country will host.

"At the end of May and early June, a large international exercise will be organized at the Krivolak army field, organized by the U.S. Armed Forces for Europe, where our Army will be the host. In addition to the Army and the United States Armed Forces, other NATO members and partners will also participate, including the Armed Forces of Greece, so it will be an excellent opportunity for the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek Armed Forces to be part of this event, which will be held on June 2," Major General Lafchiski noted.

DEFEA takes place every two years in Athens. This year it is taking place May 6 through May 8, featuring 436 exhibitors from 37 countries, 18 national pavilions and 98 official delegations from 45 countries. In addition, hundreds of leading defence and security companies from around the world will present cutting-edge technologies, systems and solutions in land, sea, air and cyber domains.

Photo: MIA