"The transfer of 946,000 euros from the ministry of education to the ministry of development will take place after the education ministry public investment programme for 2013 is approved. The amount of 500,000 euros will be transferred in the second quarter of 2013, followed by the sum of 446,000 euros in the third quarter of the year," Education Minister Constantinos Arvanitopoulos clarified.A document on this issue was forwarded to Parliament in early May in response to a question by opposition Independent Greeks (AN.EL) MP Marina Chryssoveloni on the construction of a new Muslim mosque in Athens. A relevant document signed by Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos was then forwarded to parliament on May 8.
Avramopoulos outlined the government plans to convert an old naval base building in the Votanikos area of central Athens into a mosque with the capacity of 350 people, in a letter read out in parliament in reply to a question tabled by independent MP Nikos Nikolopoulos.
The ministry of development, infrastructure, transport & networks will be responsible for the construction of the project and the conversion of adjacent buildings into auxiliary facilities, such as lavatories, he said, adding that a minaret will not be built in order to ensure that the whole construction will blend harmoniously with the surroundings.
"The state authorities have pondered on the issue of the mosque construction for some time in order to find the best possible solution while preserving domestic balance and security. At the same time, it is a long-standing demand of the Muslims living in Greece," Avramopoulos said, who added that the govern-ment's decision to found a mosque in Athens is based on national interest.
He also pointed out that the relevant legislation concerning the project (Law No 4014/2011) was passed in parliament on Sept. 7, 2011.
(Combined reports, AMNA, MFA)
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