The 2008 Defendory International, the "15th Specialised Exhibition of Conventional Systems for National Defence on Land-Sea-Air" was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Hellinikon exhibition centre, site of the former Athens airport, by Deputy Defence Minister Yiannis Plakiotakis.

Opening the exhibition, Plakiotakis said that events of this kind allowed Greek Armed Forces staff to learn about the latest advances made by the global defence industry and allowed Greece's defence industry to explore possible partnerships and collaboration with those of other countries.

He repeated the government's support for the domestic defence industry, both private and state-run, noting that it was a robust sector whose activities benefited the Greek economy.

The deputy minister then toured nearly all the pavilions at the exhibition, with stops at the Russian and Italian pavilions, where he was met by his counterparts in both countries, and the U.S. pavilion, where he was received by U.S. Ambassador to Athens Daniel Speckhard.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, Plakiotakis also had formal meetings with his counterparts from the Czech Republic and Cyprus.

Taking part in the 2008 Defendory are 38 individual countries and NATO, while invitations have been accepted by representatives of 50 countries. It will run until October 11.

Among the highlights will be an airshow that will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday above Faliro Bay in Athens by the French aerial acrobatics squadron, an event organised by Faliro Mayor Dionysis Hatzidakis and the French Embassy in Athens.

Source : Athens News