The Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy, Kostas Skrekas, spoke to OPEN about the legislative provision regarding the supervision of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
Referring to the debate that has arisen regarding the connection of P. Routsi’s hunger strike with the new provision, Mr. Skrekas clarified that “the personal protest should not be connected with the regulation concerning the protection of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier”.
As he said, “the Monument is a national symbol of the struggles of our ancestors, thanks to whom we have today a free and democratic Greece”.
He added that “obviously, the Memorial must be kept in a decent condition, exude respect and be able to be visited by the world”, underlining at the same time that “the parents of the victims have every right to ask for clarification of the Tempi case, but this is a different issue”.
Responding to comments about the “aesthetics” of the area with the 57 names of the victims, Mr. Skrekas pointed out that “it is not a matter of aesthetics. The prime minister himself has shown his respect,” he said. “Monuments have already been made, both at the place of the accident, and in the municipality of Athens. The issue we are considering now does not concern Tempi, but the protection of a national symbol, which has received attacks in the past, such as the burning of the watchtower by anarchist elements. The Memorial is not an “open vineyard”. We must honor and protect it,” he added.
Responding to PASOK’s objections, the ND Secretary countered: “The opposition accuses the government of taking six years to do it. Now that he does, why is he reacting? The opposition chooses confusion and petty politics. He is trying to confuse things, to mix Tempi and internal parties, to divert the discussion. The order is clear: he wants to establish order and respect.”
Source: Skai
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