The programme for land utilisation in Pikermi to the benefit of members of Officers’ Autonomous Building agency (AOOA) was presented by the Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos and the Alternate Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Nikos Tagaras, at the Ministry of National Defence today.
This programme along with the Law 4280/14 provides for a solution for the members of AOOA in an issue which was pending for four decades. Through the approval of the building plan of AOOA, a new residential area will be constructed in Pikermi with a modern building planning and high environmental awareness, satisfying a long-lasting demand of the agency’s members for housing facilities.
The presentation of the programme was conducted at the presence of the Chief of HNDGS General Michail Kostarakos, the former Alternate Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change Stavros Kalafatis and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Retired Army Officers Association, Major General (ret) Evangelos Danias.
Key notes of the statements addressed by the Ministers and the Chief of HNDGS:
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: Today, along with my colleague, Alternate Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Nikos Tagaras, we are here, in the Ministry of National Defence to take the necessary action provided for by the Law 4280/2014 of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and finally utilize this significant area in Pikermi to the benefit of members of the Officers’ Autonomous Building Agency as well as to the benefit of the local community and people residing in the surrounding areas.
It is a decision which will contribute to the substantial upgrade of this area, to its utilization and it definitely responds to a constant need, to a pending issue which completed forty years this year.
Forty years is a long time, we are talking about two generations of officers who waited so long. The first time I was informed about this pending issue, it was by the Chief of HNDGS, during my last tenure. I must say that it was one of the flags he lifted to raise awareness among the political leadership and his colleagues and mostly future generations must acknowledge that.
I should add that I received an immediate response by the then Alternate Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Stavros Kalafatis whom I would like to thank on behalf of everybody. He promote this case quickly “breaking through” bureaucratic walls.
And of course, Nikos Tagaras, who speeded up the procedure ever more. I must say it was one of the first issues he was deeply interested in, because he is relatively new in the Ministers Cabinet, but very quick in decision making. Maybe, this is due to the fact that we all have experience in local government and this has taught us to be quick, effective and mainly practical.
Particularly, about the area of Pikermi, the new law provides for the 50% of the area to be conceded to the State for the environmental upgrade of this area and the other 50% can be used for building at a low building ratio, turning the existent cleared and abandoned area into a modern residential zone with many social facilities and of course a huge green space.
In this context, both Ministries have decided already decided and consider the relevant details and the Officers’ Autonomous Building Agency has the possibility to utilize its property and create a new residential area in Pikermi to the benefit of its members.
After the town plan is approved, the Officers’ Autonomous Building Agency(AOOA) will present a particularly important housing programme which will contribute in its turn to the important issues of growth and creation of job posts. Moreover, the application of this law, as it is planned by the AOOA will provide the guidelines for other unions, since the most complicated problems are located in the area of Pikermi due to the commitments and to the ownership form.
I would like also to mention that a bids procedure is expected for the construction of 2 apartment blocks, one of them consisting of 8 flats in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki and the other one of 10 flats in Kastoria, for the members of AOOA.
In addition, every action which aims at dealing effectively with career personnel’s problems, whether they regard housing facilities, income, health care, safe working conditions or support to their families – I have already said it many times and I will reiterate it today – is a top priority of our policy in the Ministry of National Defence.
I clearly stress that we owe them a lot.
This initiative is a practical acknowledgement of the contribution of our Armed Forces’ personnel to the effort for the reconstruction of our country and, of course, for their dedication to their duty.
Ν. TAGARAS: I would like to thank my dear Minister of National Defence for his invitation and meeting. I would also like to thank my colleague, the Minister I succeeded to, Stavros Kalafatis, for an issue that makes us all feel a little better. We live an unprecedented situation, difficult; we already live the results of this crisis and its consequences. If we cannot offer many things in financial terms, what we ought to do and we can do is to solve problems and wounds of the past.
Although late, we started to apply the Law 4280/14 at a fast pace and without any further delay. We offer the possibility for many of our fellow citizens – in this case, officers, but not only – to exert their inalienable to utilize their property, of which they were deprived by our state for several decades. The Officers’ Autonomous Building Agency utilizes this area. We refer to a total area of 6,100,000 m2, of which 2,500,000 m2 belong to AOOA.
There are, however, other Building Associations or even individuals we cooperate with. Such Building Associations are the ones of the personnel of OTE, Olympiaki Stegi, Ellinikos Foinikas and as I said also some individuals who possess approximately an area equal to the one of AOOA. Totally, we are talking about 6,100,000 m2 of which 2,200,000 will be used for building construction. We opted for the possibility of a low intervention. It is our possibility to protect this area. Take into consideration that at least 50% of the whole area – and it’s the first time something like this happens – must be conceded to the state, as an ownership and form. This means that the state gains property and it preserves and protects also its form, the forest.
On the other hand, we will protect – and yet, under a concrete planning – all absolute protection zones. But we also give this forest ecosystem which is created not only to the service of the specified residential zone to be built, but of the wider area as well.
So, this is a win-win procedure. Through this pilot yet typical procedure we see that when we want it we can solve problems that have been created. We can disengage and release creative forces at this critical period.
With these remarks, I wish to thank you for the meeting, Minister, and wish you good luck in your new duties. I am sure that you will succeed there too, as you did in all previous posts you were appointed to so far.
S. KALAFATIS: It was one of our main goals to solve problems and difficulties which tormented many citizens over many years, the Greek citizens, in the best possible manner. That is, not to avoid facing up to these problems, not ignore them, but give a straight strike to them.
And as far as land issue is concerned, we may say that there were many problems. So, we decided, through considering of this specific issue, to give a real solution.
And it serves as a brilliant battle field for us to solve more problems. People have problems that must be solved and I would like to end my statement with a real and personal wish. With the same strength, effectiveness and devotion with which you performed your duties in all posts you have served, I am sure that it is with the same strength, effectiveness and devotion that you will perform your duties, these very high duties, which you have assumed for the next years, Minister. And please, be aware that we stand by you for everything you may need.
In our capacity as MPs, in any capacity and mostly in our capacity as humans which I believe is the most important in our days.
Μ. KOSTARAKOS: Dear Ministers, gentlemen, I am particularly glad to attend this meeting for the presentation of this law.
It was one of the first goals I set when I took office and already in February ’12 we discussed about it with Mr. Minister and we began our efforts.
Pikermi has taken the attribute of a myth for the Hellenic Armed Forces. It is a problem of forty years long which was impossible to be solved and it remained untouched.
The personal involvement of the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence, of Mr. Kalafatis and Mr. Tagaras was required until we finally managed to figure out this situation and finally prove that when political will exists, when personal will exists – because I go beyond the issue of political will – the administrators will solve the issue. And this is what happened.
And we now see an issue solved, which will satisfy approximately 2,000 people, who will finally get something that belongs to them.
I would like therefore to reiterate my thanks to the political leadership I referred to as well as to the Commander of AOOA, Lieutenant General Koutroumpelis who works on this issue thoroughly.
And I wish we progress as far as possible with the other procedures to be able to offer the land to the owners as soon as possible.
Thank you very much.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I thank you too, Chief.