By Dora Antoniou

The timetable and content of its moves, regarding the monument to the Unknown Soldier, was clarified by the government yesterday, making it clear that it is not going to move in a way that will allow harsh reactions and new instrumentalization for conflicts. What does this mean in practice? That there is trust in the effect of the time spanner and its corrupting effect. In the morning coffee, at Maximos Palacethe next steps were discussed, particularly regarding the issue of the names of the Tempe victims, around which a new confrontational front is being cultivated. “Time will tell” was the conclusion, as reported by government sources.

The government representative, Pavlos Marinakisdescribed the context. As he said, next week the amendment, which will define the responsibilities for the monument, will finally be voted on. “Therefore, there will be an amendment that will be voted on next week, so that the people will know the exact schedule, which will say the following very simply: The maintenance, guarding and highlighting of the Monument will be the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense, however, as in the entire Greek territory, the enforcement of order, if something happens, anything, will be the responsibility of the Greek Police, the Ministry of Protection Citizen. In a few words, in order not to tire people, after the passing of this particular amendment the Monument to the Unknown Soldier will only be for the honor of the dead. For nothing else. No protest, no march, nothing.” he said.

And referring specifically to the names and the debate that has opened whether they will be deleted or not, he added: “from the moment the amendment is passed, anything different about the Unknown Soldier, other than self-evident respect for our heroes, ends. Practical… The respect for the dead for the tragic accident in Tempe can be done in a Memorial, it can be done anywhere in Greece, it can be done wherever the parents want, wherever the relatives want. We are not going to enter into the process of making an “aggressive” move, an action, to go tomorrow the day after tomorrow, next week, to erase the names, so that the known and unknown provocateurs “solidarists” who take advantage of the pain of the relatives will come and create another tension”.

In essence, that is, the government is not planning to intervene to erase the names. Gradually, however, over time this will happen as they will not be allowed to be rewritten. As said by Mr. Marinakisafter the amendment was passed “we will not allow this sacred spot to become anything to do with the expression of any protest. It can be further, closer”.