Greece: Joint official Statements by Minister of State Mr. Giorgos Gerapetritis and the outgoing Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Mr. Kostas Karamanlis at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport

Greece: Joint official Statements by Minister of State Mr. Giorgos Gerapetritis and the outgoing Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Mr. Kostas Karamanlis at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport

(IN BRIEF) Greece: The outgoing Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlis, expresses his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in a recent tragedy, and emphasizes the need for a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident. He resigns from his position, and the incoming Minister of State, Giorgos Gerapetritis, takes over with a specific mandate to investigate the causes of the tragedy, ensure the modernization of infrastructure processes, and restore the safety of transport at the level of Railway Transports. A committee of experts will be set up to study the systemic causes that led to the tragedy. Gerapetritis apologizes to the families of the victims and takes on the heavy responsibility of his new position.

(PRESS RELEASE) ATHENS, 2-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Mr. Kostas Karamanlis was the first to speak and stated:

“Thank you very much for being here today. I won’t tell you much. This is no time for words. Our country is unfortunately experiencing a national tragedy. And nothing matters in the face of the fact that so many human lives were unjustly lost. Unfortunately, it appears that human error led to this unspeakable tragedy. But everything will be investigated in the most objective way, as the Prime Minister promised. Today, therefore, my presence at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport comes to an end. Outgoing Ministers always give an account of their work. I will not do it. Whether much or little was done, we will not see now on such a day of pain and mourning. The fact that the position of the Minister is taken over by a worthy scientist, Giorgos Gerapetritis, gives me even more confidence that the investigation will be thorough and the causes of the accident will be accurately identified. I have no doubt about it. I wish him strength in his new, difficult tasks. Let me just say a big thank you to my colleagues in the political leadership of the Ministry and to all my partners and employees, for their hard work and the cooperation we have had over the years. And of course, I must also thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the trust he has shown in me. And of course, finally, once again, I want to express my condolences to the families who lost their people. And my warmest wishes to the wounded who are fighting their own battle. I wish him strength in his new, difficult tasks. Let me just say a big thank you to my colleagues in the political leadership of the Ministry and to all my partners and employees, for their hard work and the cooperation we have had over the years. And of course, I must also thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the trust he has shown in me. And of course, finally, once again, I want to express my condolences to the families who lost their people. And my warmest wishes to the wounded who are fighting their own battle. I wish him strength in his new, difficult tasks. Let me just say a big thank you to my colleagues in the political leadership of the Ministry and to all my partners and employees, for their hard work and the cooperation we have had over the years. And of course, I must also thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the trust he has shown in me. And of course, finally, once again, I want to express my condolences to the families who lost their people. And my warmest wishes to the wounded who are fighting their own battle. for their hard work and the cooperation we have had over the years. And of course, I must also thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the trust he has shown in me. And of course, finally, once again, I want to express my condolences to the families who lost their people. And my warmest wishes to the wounded who are fighting their own battle. for their hard work and the cooperation we have had over the years. And of course, I must also thank Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the trust he has shown in me. And of course, finally, once again, I want to express my condolences to the families who lost their people. And my warmest wishes to the wounded who are fighting their own battle.

Thank you very much”.

The Minister of State Mr. Giorgos Gerapetritis stated:

“We are experiencing days which are really dark for the country. After the tragic accident in Tempe the country is experiencing extremely difficult conditions and we are all devastated. I would first of all like to thank the Minister, not only for his general presence in the Ministry, primarily for his political example and the integrity he showed to resign, assuming the objective political responsibility that occurs in such cases of loss of human life, so unfairly, so cheaply.

I wanted to point out that I am taking over with a special mandate from the Prime Minister. I assume the responsibilities of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with a view to three specific things: The first and most fundamental is to investigate the reasons why we have come to the point of mourning the loss of human souls. The investigation of the causes will be done in a way that will be transparent and absolutely thorough. This is the clear order of the Prime Minister.

For this reason today, an ad hoc committee of experts will be set up which will study the systemic causes that led to the tragedy that we are all experiencing today, the pathologies, the inactions that have existed throughout time, if they have existed and not of course, in order to responsibilities are attributed, which is the subject of the already existing judicial investigation.

The second mandate is to ensure the infrastructure modernization processes, which have already been initiated, so that there is no issue with the speed of the projects, which have already been undertaken.

Finally, there should be immediate actions to restore the safety of transport at the level of Railway Transports in order to have a consolidation of safety in the psychology of the citizens.

I would like to say that I do not take over the day-to-day management of the Ministry, there are the Deputy Ministers who are present and who will continue to carry out the political work of everyday life, they will continue their work, as will the General Secretaries.

I would like to point out again that the work of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport will continue uninterrupted. I want to tell you, quite frankly, that I feel a great debt and responsibility in taking on this special mandate of the Prime Minister. It is a very heavy responsibility. I am used to taking on such responsibilities in my life and because we are facing a real tragedy, I want, first of all, to apologize to the families of the people who were lost, making a comprehensive self-criticism and for the entire political system and the State and I want honestly looking into the eyes of these people, I can say that this difficult and sad work will come to an end. Everything will be investigated and everything will be brought to the attention of the Greek citizens.

Thank you very much”.

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SOURCE: Greek Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport (Υπουργείο Υποδομών & Μεταφορών)