Mitsotakis: We prove in practice that development projects are our priority

The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attended the delivery event of the new road axis Kalloni – Sigrio Lesvos, 46.7 kilometers long.

“One of the important regional road network upgrade projects is completed, is delivered, as a result of which the isolation of Western Lesvos is broken, and important new development perspectives are created for this beautiful place. And of course, let’s contribute in this way to the national goal of reducing fatal traffic accidents by at least 50% by 2030,” the prime minister emphasized, emphasizing that it is a project that will be built with national resources, and this proves the priority he gives the government in the big development projects, which are changing the face of Lesvos.

He also referred to the visa facilitation program saying that a request of the region was met by the government, but it was not easy at all. “What you see today and we take for granted, it took a lot of work from the Minister of Migration Policy and his staff to convince the European Commission that we are ready to meet the high demands of Schengen. To be able to grant visas essentially within a few minutes” he said.

“It is the only case the only case in Europe at the moment where a similar program is “running”. It “runs” here in the North Aegean. It was my commitment, we made it happen” he added.

Regarding the reduced migration flows, the Prime Minister said: “Greece is one of the few, if not the only, country that has effectively dealt with the problem of refugee flows with tangible results, with a significant reduction in flows, with an excellent job which our Coast Guard does, but also in cooperation with the Turkish authorities” emphasizing that the improvement of Greece-Turkey relations has tangible results in everyday life.

“So, the reduction in immigration flows, illegal immigration, the increase in legal visits, which is the other side of the coin, I would say is the tangible proof that this policy of rapprochement between Greece and Turkey has real results which give a substantial economic “dividend” of development in Lesvos but also in all the islands of the Eastern Aegean” underlined Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The following is the speech of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis:

In 2019, when our citizens first entrusted us with the responsibility of governing the country, I said that one of our central political priorities is to turn the whole country into one vast construction site.

Five years later, the construction sites are gradually closing and giving way to important projects, which are changing the everyday life of Greek men and women.

Nikos Tachiaos was right when he spoke about this, I would say, not real, false division between large, medium and small projects. Because this work for you is very big, it is very important. It’s a project you’ve been asking for for decades.

One of the important projects to upgrade the regional road network is completed, handed over, as a result of which the isolation of Western Lesvos is now broken, and important new development prospects are created for this beautiful place. And of course, to contribute in this way to the national goal of reducing fatal traffic accidents by at least 50% by 2030.

So many things I don’t need to say about the importance of the project. You know better than anyone how important it is to save 40 minutes going from Kalloni to Sigri, from Sigri to Kalloni, but also traveling on a road that meets all modern safety standards.

However, as the minister said, this road is not the only important project being launched on your island. I remembered that 30 years ago Konstantinos Mitsotakis had come here and had spoken to you then about the need to build the Tsiknia dam, so that Mytilini, but also here the region of Kalloni and Agia Paraskevi, could finally solve the problem once and for all the water supply problem.

It is perhaps indicative of the Greek pathogenesis and the history to some extent of the post-colonialism that projects which should have been completed decades ago, are now coming and being launched by this government.

I want to focus on the timetable, which the minister also mentioned: we hope to have the project fully contracted within the next month and immediately after that to start its construction.

I also want to emphasize that it is a project that will be built with national funds, as it was a political decision of the government to transfer the financing of the project to the Public Investment Program. In this way we demonstrate in practice the priority we give to major development projects, which change the face of Lesbos.

The minister also mentioned the rest of the projects, I would just like to add, in addition to the important interventions being made in the school units of the island, the biological cleaning project which is being launched for the area near the airport, but also the important interventions being made in the units health, most importantly the complete renovation of your hospital’s psychiatric clinic. A project which we also estimate will begin to be implemented immediately.

We see, therefore, how your island, dear Mr. Regional Governor, Mr. Mayors, acquires a completely new dynamic. A dynamic that I had the opportunity to witness this morning as well, despite the difficult weather conditions that prevailed in Mytilini, walking on the street, greeting professional taxi drivers.

I saw a lot of smiles. And I understand why there are many smiles, because the opening of the Lesvos connection – three ports here on the island will eventually be covered by the visa facilitation program – has already brought a significant number of Turkish visitors to the island.

A request of the district was granted by the government, but I want to repeat that it was not easy at all. What you see today and we take for granted, it took a lot of work from the Minister of Migration Policy and his staff to convince the European Commission that we are ready to meet the high demands of Schengen. To be able to grant visas virtually within a few minutes.

It is the only case – keep it – the only case in Europe at the moment where such a program is “running”. It “runs” here in the North Aegean. It was my commitment, we made it happen.

And of course to the overall picture, I would like to add something that you know very well: those of us who have visited the island many times – from the days when I was the leader of the opposition, the first difficult months of our first government term – we remember traumatic experiences in refugee-immigrant management.

I think it is accurate to say that Greece is one of the few, if not the only, country that has effectively dealt with the problem of refugee flows with tangible results, with a significant reduction in flows, with an excellent job done by the Coast Guard our House, but also in cooperation – we must say this too – with the Turkish authorities.

Because you see that this improvement in Greece-Turkey relations has tangible results for your own daily life. You are the first and the first who want to live – and to live – in conditions of peace and peaceful coexistence with Turkey.

So, the reduction of immigration flows, illegal immigration, the increase of legal visits, which is the other side of the coin, I would say is the tangible proof that this policy of rapprochement between Greece and Turkey has real results which give a substantial financial “dividend” of development in Lesvos but also in all the islands of the Eastern Aegean.

In closing, I would like to congratulate the construction company, “‘Aktora”, and also say that I expect with the same speed and the same consistency, the implementation of the large water supply project which will start shortly.

Mr. Exarchou did not tell you that he has spent a large part of his term, if I am not mistaken, here on Lesbos, so I imagine he has a special reason to be involved in this particular project.

But it is of great importance that we now have construction companies, our large companies and our smaller companies, which are able to carry out complex projects.

And here let me focus on what the minister said: it was very difficult – and I would also like to thank the services of the Ministry of Culture – this construction of a project in the middle of such an important geopark, such as the petrified forest in Sigri.

Our companies, however, have the experience to be able to manage such complex projects, as is the Thessaloniki Metro – complex as it is – which will finally be handed over to the people of Thessaloniki in the month of November. It is important that the Greek construction companies can meet the high demands, the strict schedules set by the ministry.

And one last thing: this project that we are discussing today is yet another project that is being done with European resources. Let’s remember this because in 50 or so days from now we have European elections. Let’s remember and think very carefully about who those political forces are, who is that party which the next day can claim in Europe policies, resources, that really change your life.

Whether these policies are the visa facilitation – there was no way the visa facilitation would have been given to Greece if the country had not significantly improved its international credibility – whether we are talking about resources, new resources, whether we are talking about the Cohesion Fund, or we are talking about the Recovery Fund.

Let me remind everyone that what happens in Europe is important for what ultimately happens in our country and the best proof of this is the road axis that we are officially handing over to traffic today.

The identity of the project

As part of the project, implemented with NSRF resources, approximately 21 kilometers of the existing road were upgraded and new sections of 26 kilometers were constructed, significantly improving road safety on a central road axis of Lesvos.

The new road has a particularly significant development impact on the island, especially in the western part, as on the one hand it facilitates the movement to and from the upgraded passenger and commercial port of Sigri, with the duration of the entire route being reduced by more than 50%, and on the other hand it contributes in highlighting the cultural identity of Lesvos through the increased visibility of the petrified forest, which is a UNESCO world natural monument.

During the work, 18,837 fossils were uncovered, among which a find of extraordinary importance: the first fossilized tree found intact with its branches and roots.

The number of finds in this project constitutes the largest salvage excavation of fossils in Greece, both in terms of area and in terms of the number of finds, and it has been presented as a good practice at the UNESCO World Geoparks Conference.