Greece to participate in satellite programme HELIOS-2

[akritas]

The Defence Ministries of Greece and France signed an agreement on Friday, whereby Greece will be the 11th country worldwide that will have access to military space observation satellites.

Specifically, according to an announcement issued by the Greek defence ministry, Greece will participate in the space observation satellite programme HELIOS-2, as member of the European consortium BOC (Besoins Operationelles Communs).

Negotiations on this issue had begun in 1998 and were suspended in 2001. Negotiations were resumed when the ministry's new political leadership came into office last March, resulting in the signing of Friday's agreement.

The other countries which comprise the consortium are France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium.

Greece's financial contribution, as a member of the programme, will amount to 2.5%, which is estimated to equal €80 million over the next 10 years.

http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/select...26service%3D10

[pankration]

Allies with Germany! What a world we live in!