By Yannis Anifantis

“The first thing I feel like doing is to express once again to the family my deepest sorrow.” With this phrase, the former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Kostas Karamanlisemphasizing how “as a parent all I have to say is respect their pain. But as a politician, I want the truth to shine.”

The former Minister testifying to the competent committee of the Parliament that investigates the causes of the train accident in Tempe pointed out that he feels absolutely obliged to speak honestlyresponsibility and respect for the memory of the people who were so unjustly lost.

“Whatever I have to say I will say looking you in the eye, you and all Greek men and women who want to know the truth. There is nothing I can do to beautify the image. But I will not leave unanswered opinions about me hanging. I will not fuel a sterile political or petty political confrontation. I’ve been here since the first moment, I didn’t hide, I didn’t play theater. Yes, in truth, not the tavern”pointed out the former Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.

Referring to his resignation from the position of Minister of Infrastructure and Transport a few hours after the accident, Mr. Karamanlis emphasized: “I never thought for a moment of hiding behind other people’s responsibilities. I resigned against standard political practice in such circumstances: To suspend or request the resignations of my subordinates. I considered this act self-evident.”

Regarding the 717 contract, he underlined how “we untangled the Gordian link and chose for the projects to proceed decisively and to finish and not to remain stagnant”. “Many points of view were heard and various aspects of the facts were given. But there was not a single expert, not a single person among those who know the subject in depth, I repeat not a single one, who denied that if even one side had followed the procedures of the General Traffic Regulation the accident would have been prevented” he pointed out, referring to fateful night of the train crash.

“As far as the (security) systems are concerned, they would clearly contribute to increasing security, but there was no certainty that they would have prevented the accident, because these systems are also operated by people,” the former minister emphasized and added: “Because for trains to be safe, even more important than any kind of technology, it is a : to reverently observe their traffic regulations. This General Regulation of Operation, therefore, was unfortunately violated serially on that fateful night. This is the reality”.

“This must finally be heard, because the Greek people and especially the families who were so unjustly affected by this tragedy, have the right to know”concluded Mr. Karamanlis in his introductory statement.