No from the municipal council to the request of the Diocese of Neapolis-Stavroupolis for the building of the Brigade

“No” he said city ​​council of Pavlos Melas at her request Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis for concession of the Brigade building for the creation of an Ecclesiastical Cultural Center, located at under construction Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park.

During the meeting held in the presence of residents, agencies and collectives who react to the concession of the historic building, the issue of the concession was not approved by councilors of all factions. Specifically, after a roll-call vote, the request of the Holy Metropolis received only 15 positive votes from the 40 councilors (39 municipal councilors and the president of the local council of Stavroupolis), while 21 are required. The negative opinion on the request of the Metropolis was preceded last Monday from the Local Council of Stavroupoli.

Read – Thessaloniki: “No” from the Stavroupolis Community to the concession of the Brigade building to the Diocese of Neapolis and Stavroupolis

The meeting took place amid reactions and with the representative from the citizens’ movements complaining that they allow a transaction with the Metropolis, to which they grant a historical building of 500 square meters, within the metropolitan park of Pavlos Melas under construction. “We are not here to judge the spectacular project of the Metropolis, but whether we allow the slicing of municipal property and its concession to entities, such as the church, which wants a building to make it its palace”, he said characteristically.

Dimitris Aslanidis in the role of Pontius Pilate: I respect the Metropolis and its work – Vote by conscience

Mayor Dimitris Aslanidis speaking at the municipal council meeting clarified that the grant of said building to the Metropolis it is not the most important issue for the Metropolitan Park. “It is in my view a mistake to reduce it to a major issue. The essence is the completion of the Park and its performance in the local community of Pavlos Melas”, noted Mr. Aslanidis, stating that will be completed by Spring 2025, beyond the schedule that has been set. Mr. Aslanidis made it clear in his speech that he honors and respects the Metropolis, Metropolitan Varnavas for the social and humanitarian work he carries out in western Thessaloniki. “This is one thing and the issue that comes up for discussion is another. Your vote is neither for nor against specific persons and institutions”, he underlined. He made it clear that he is not evading and that he will accept the verdict of the municipal councilors and that it will be respected.

Mr. Aslanidis in his deposition kept a low profile, regarding the reactions to the concession of the building to the Metropolis. “I choose not to raise spirits, not to raise the tone. I want you to know that I have nothing to share with anyone. We don’t go confrontational, we go in moderation. Asking for synergies and alliances from both the opposition and the local community, but setting the tone that the municipality has the first and last say for the utilization of the Park”, he stressed, calling for a vote of conscience. He noted that the concern of the municipality is how to give sustainability to the Park and how to establish a management body. He spoke of the arduous course and continuation of efforts for the completion and reconstruction of all the preserved buildings, approximately 25 in number, and all the areas of the Park. “All this requires continued efforts, which will be laborious and time-consuming. We are talking about finding resources, which currently reach and exceed 30 million euros for the rest of the buildings, many more resources than we have,” he said.

Demourtzidis: “The municipality will benefit from the presence of the Holy Metropolis in the Metropolitan Park

For his part, the former mayor and head of the major opposition Dimitris Demourtzidis initially defended his actions for the Pavlos Melas Metropolitan Park when he was in the administration of the municipality. In his speech, he referred to the work of the Metropolis of Stavroupolis and Neapolis, noting that it is in the interest of the municipality to have Metropolitan Barnabas by his side. “Our issue is the church, the constant friction of some people with the church. We leave aside a huge project that is being done and has forced all the prime ministers in the municipality of Pavlos Melas and we deal with the fencing and the church. Of course, we forget that every day the church distributes 8,500 portions to small groups and 1,500 to our citizens, and this is not the only one of its wonderful work”, underlined Mr. Demourtzidis.

Referring to the Metropolitan, he emphasized that “in the 9.5 years that I was mayor, he was an ally of the city”. “It is the strong voice of western Thessaloniki against any government to support our requests”, the former mayor underlined. Regarding the building, Mr. Demourtzidis noted that it is in a very bad condition and that in the original strategic plan we had proposed to demolish it. “We considered it to be demolished, but the New Monuments Service expressed an opposite opinion”, he noted. As Mr. Demourtzidis said, he had invited the Metropolitan to make a request to the municipal council and that TETHA has no jurisdiction. “The municipality will benefit from the presence of the Holy Metropolis in the Metropolitan Park in any form” underlined Mr. Demourtzidis in his statement.

THE Giorgos Liltsis, head of the “Overturn” faction noted that it was wrong for the Metropolis to apply for the concession of the building. “Even the Metropolitan should have come to the municipal council and informed it”, he underlined. He expressed his question about the attitude of TETHA, which “with its document urging us to satisfy the request of the Metropolitan”. “What is important is to finish the project quickly with the only difference, however, that we should correct the bad texts in order not to put the entire camp and the municipality of Pavlos Melas hostage to its obligations in the future”, he emphasized.

Finally, O Marios Palatzas head of the “Popular Rally” spoke of an attempt to degrade the issue to its political essence. “We cannot limit the issue to a local level. Because in this direction all 25 buildings will be utilized with their uses being offered remuneratively or that have nothing to do with the needs but only with the profits of the businessmen who will invest commercially in the Metropolitan Park, who are waiting their turn after the Metropolitan “, he said.