HISTORY
HISTORY

Like today, on 20/10/1995, the Secretary General of NATO, Willy Claes, publicly announced from Brussels that he felt sorry for his extraordinary resignation. The resignation of the Belgian politician from the position of Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance came after the decision of the country’s parliament to suspend jail terms for bribery offenses.
The charges involved bribery of Claes’s Flemish Socialist Party by the large Italian military equipment company Agusta. In particular, Claes’s party was accused of receiving $ 1.5 billion from Agusta to sign a contract for the acquisition of 46 attack and patrol helicopters in 1988, during which Claes served as Finance Minister.
Following the announcement of his resignation, Claes stated that he would defend his innocence. The US authorities made statements in his support, but the period was critical and he set other priorities as the conflict in Bosnia escalated.
The scandal then involved the French military equipment company, Dassault, for 1989 contracts. The case escalated and in 1998 Claes, along with a French businessman and 10 Belgian politicians, were found guilty. The former NATO Secretary General could not convince the court of two payments of $ 30,000 and $ 60,000 to his personal account. The case is considered one of the key cases internationally of financial corruption in military armaments.
With information from: ERT (“San Simera”), NATO, Chicago Tribune, Irish Times.
Also read: Europol | The DarkMarket, the world’s largest illegal dark internet market, has been taken down
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION
The Cypriot Uprising of October 1931 against the British
In October 1931, the Cypriots rose up against the brutal and inhumane treatment of the British, demanding liberation from the oppressive British…
September 2, 1958 | Battle at the Barn of Liopetri – The four EOKA Heroes
The Battle at the Barn of Liopetri, also known as the “New Battle of Gravia”, was fought by EOKA Members Ilias Papakyriakou, Fotis Pitta, Christos Samaras and Andreas Karios, against British colonialism on September 2, 1958…
August 3, 1977 | 45 years since the death of Archbishop Makarios III
Today marks forty-five years since the death of the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.
RF HUNTER® | Debut appearance in Cyprus at the International Defence and Security Conference “BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023”
SignalGeneriX’s participation in the Cyprus International Defence and Security Conference “BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023” attracted the…
AKERON | Under the sign of European cooperation
The AKERON MP, the only fifth-generation combat-proven missile in the world, continues its way on a road paved…
Summing up the 1st International Conference on Defence and Security BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023 | Photos and VIDEOS
The 1st International Defence and Security Conference in Cyprus entitled “BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023” was successfully completed.
BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023 | The emerging Cypriot Defence Industry – EU Funding Opportunities
The opening of the “BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023” International Defense and Security Conference took place with the attendance of a…
SignalGeneriX | Domestic showcase of the RF Hunter at the International Defence and Security Conference BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023
The participation of SignalGeneriX in the Cyprus International Defence and Security Conference “BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023” is expected to…
BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023 | Schedule and Participations in the 1st Cyprus International Defence and Security Conference
The 1st Cyprus International Defence and Security Conference “BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2023” is ante portas. The conference will take…