The Minister of National Defence Mr. Panos Panagiotopoulos, and the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sport Mr. Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos, visited today the building where once lodged the Hotel “La Mirage” at Omonia Square.
The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sport have mutually decided to utilise the building (where the hotel was lodged) and transform it to a Residence Hall of 400-bed capacity.
This building, which is property of the Air Force Share Fund, has remained closed since 2008. Its exploitation will cover a significant share of the students’ needs, while also improving the centre of Athens. Furthermore, its rental will be a significant source of revenue for the Armed Forces.
After visiting the building, the two Ministers made the following statements:
P. PANAGIOTOPOULOS: “It is a great joy for me to be here, at the centre of Athens, Omonia Square, with my colleague the Minister of Education Mr. Arvanitopoulos, in order to proceed to an agreement that had already been planned by the two Ministries, so that this hotel which has not been running and belongs to the Air Force Share Fund, will be rented by the Ministry of Education and used as Residence Hall.
I think that the advantages are multiple. On one hand, the Ministry of National Defence will have a specific income from an asset it was not able to exploit for the past years. On the other hand students, who need it more during these difficult times, will be accommodated.
A third point is that at a difficult spot in Athens we will have a nucleus of students, of new admirable people, who will give their own note to everyday life which should change, at least at the centre of Athens.
We should add here that there is further cooperation between the two Ministries. It all began with the Protocol of Cooperation between the two Ministries, which was signed few time ago at the Ministry of National Defence.
We began with the board of teachers in Officers Clubs at remote areas, since this is an action of social protections for our fellow citizens.
We included the issue of Olympic medallists who belong to the Armed Forces, and whom we assign to school districts so that they shall educate the children and introduce them to the Olympic spirit, for purely educational reasons.
Yet let’s continue with the issue of the Residence Hall; this new Residence Hall at the centre of Athens. Both sides, we try to combine forces in making everyday life, which is already very difficult, a little less difficult and in offering policies of social protection to the Greek family. And this is very important.
I would like to thank the Minister of Education for the cooperation; Mr. Arvanitopoulos, I would also like to thank your colleagues who have worked along with my staff, so as to reach this outcome”.
K. ARVANITOPOULOS: “May I also say that we have agreed with the Minister of National Defence Mr. Panagiotopoulos that this building, which is property of the Air Force Share Fund, will be used by the Ministry of Education so as to provide accommodation to 400 young students who come from the province to study at Universities in the centre of Athens.
In this way we try to facilitate the Greek family, so that it can cope with the unfamiliar circumstances this crisis has formed. We have already doubled the beneficiaries of board and today we increase the beds of student accommodation by 400. As the Minister already said, we also contribute to help fill the centre of Athens with young people who will help it regain the trend it had in the past.
I would like to thank the Ministry of National Defence for the cooperation; I believe that in this way, within our capabilities, we try to facilitate Greek citizens to manage the distressful financial crisis we experience”.
