Development rather than destruction of the historic site of Makronissos

5.4.2004

ORAL QUESTION H-0205/04
for Question Time at the part-session in April 2004
pursuant to Rule 43 of the Rules of Procedure
by Konstantinos Alyssandrakis
to the Commission

Makronissos, a place of martyrdom and a monument to the struggles of the Greek people, was designated an historic site and a 'place of remembrance for all Greeks' by presidential decree in 1989. In a resolution of 1993 the European Parliament had called upon the Council and the Commission to provide financial support so as to preserve the special importance of concentration camps. However, the image that Makronissos presents today is unacceptable: this historic site has been turned into pastureland, and the concentration camp buildings are in a state of collapse or are used as animal shelters.

 

Will the Commission say whether the Greek authorities have raised the issue of the co-funding of projects to develop and promote the island as an historic site and whether it intends to satisfy such a request, which is of special importance for contemporary Greek and European history, to raise awareness of democratic struggles and the suffering of fighters for democratic rights?

 

 

Tabled: 05.04.2004

el