NDP ministers Avramopoulos and Staikouras visit Kırmahalle
Dimitris Avramopoulos, former Minister of National Defence and European Commissioner for Immigration, Home Affairs and Citizenship and Christos Staikouras, who served as Minister of Finance in the last NDP government, made visits in the Rhodope region today.
Avramopoulos and Staikouras, former NDP ministers, started their day-long visit programme to the province of Rhodope in the Thrace region before the general elections to be held on 25 June from the town of Şapçı.
After visiting shopkeepers and chatting with citizens in Şapçı, the ministers paid their second visit to Kırmahalle, one of the most important Turkish neighbourhoods of Komotini.
During their visit to Kırmahalle, the former ministers were accompanied by Greek MP candidates Evripidis Stilyanidis, Theofanis Kofidis, Greek MP candidates from the NDP from the province of Rodopi, Antonis Gravanis, Mayor Candidate for Komotini and President of Komotini Dinata Listasi, minority and majority councillor candidates.
Avraamopoulos and Staikouras, together with their entourage, visited cafes in the neighbourhood and greeted the citizens. They visited the shops in Filippoupoleos, the main street of the neighbourhood and greeted the shopkeepers. They also visited Lavirintou and Mersinis streets of the neighbourhood and received information about the situation of the neighbourhood from Antonis Gravanis, the leader of the main opposition in Komotini Municipality.
Afterwards, ministers Avramopoulos and Staikuras greeted the cognates who were sitting under the tree in front of Yusuf Efendi Masjid, where the cognates often gather in the neighbourhood, and made a speech to the citizens and the press members.
In his speech, former Defence Minister Avramopoulos said:
"Even though the elections are in the last days, we wanted this visit to Komotini. We can make this point of Greece and Europe a reference point for the whole of Europe and the whole world. The Christians and Muslims here can be an example for the whole Mediterranean and Eastern Europe to live together. All this starts from real disagreements. But things have improved here. Indeed, when I was in the European Commission, I always gave this part of Europe as an example of harmonious coexistence. In a country that respects all laws, all citizens enjoy being part of one big European family. In 1990, the Diplomatic Council of Mr Mitsotakis announced in this region the principle of Isonomia (equality before the law) and Isopoliteia (equality of civil rights). At first, many people did not believe it. This has evolved. It developed as we followed the evolution of the Muslim minority. The spiritual and educational level of the minority has increased. This region is in the process of producing a new generation of citizens. I say this because some things have been written and heard recently. We leave them aside and do not care about them. What is important is how Thrace, and especially Komotini, is acting as a whole for the future, which has enormous potential. The Greek state knows which side you are on. So does the local administration. Do not think that only the state is to blame for all this. The state, the government, state governments, municipal governments, etc. The Greek state is democratic and respectful towards all citizens... No matter how things turn out, we are not here to influence the pre-election period, but to send a message of security and stability. It is a message of respect and recognition for the Muslim minority, which unites you together with your Christian brothers and sisters in a common future, in common concerns and common dreams, hence in a common consciousness. Do not let in anything that sows the seeds of discord from the past. A beautiful common future unites us," he said.
After the ministers, parliamentary candidate Evripidis Stilyanidis and mayoral candidate Antonis Gravanis made speeches and referred to the visit of the NDP staff to Kırmahalle.
It did not go unnoticed that Avramopoulos addressed the main opposition leader Gravanis as "my mayor" during his visit to the neighbourhood and in his speech. Avramopoulos clearly showed his support for Gravanis in the local elections.
After the speeches, the former NDP ministers and the deputy candidates, municipal council members and candidates accompanying them continued their visits to the tradesmen and then left Kırmahalle.
