The Mayor of Thessaloniki Konstantinos Zervas, the president of KISE and I.K. Thessaloniki David Saltiel and the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Holocaust Museum Foundation Yannis Boutaris spoke to journalist Dimitris Lazopoulos about the issue of the solution to the ownership issue that had arisen for the construction of the Holocaust Museum in Thessaloniki. The interview was published on Macedonia of Sunday on 30.8.2020.
Below we republish the statements of the president of KISE:
""The record time has... record years", says the president of KISE and I.K. to "MtK". Thessaloniki Mr. David Saltiel, remembering the first announcement of the project in 2013.
Commenting on the decision of the Municipality, he argues that "if the deed is done, I think it is very important, because we will be able to do everything necessary to get the permit (including reconstruction)" and then draw up the tender documents.
According to Mr. Saltiel, the problems arose when the municipal services found that GAIAOSE only had three acres and not 15, as claimed. The rest belonged to the Municipality and the situation became complicated, while the memorandum was drawn up on the initiative of Mr. Pikramenos, with which the three parties agree what they will deliver for the construction of the Museum, adds Mr. Saltiel.
Regarding funding, 10 million euros have been secured from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 million from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and an additional eight million will be provided by the Greek state. Of course, if necessary, "other financiers will have to be found", emphasizes Mr. Saltiel. In any case, "from the moment we start we need two to three years", however the question is how long it will take until the building permit is issued, warns Mr. Saltiel.