Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis onveyed condolences on behalf of Athens City Council to the family of the 16-year-old boy who died in Exarchia on Saturday, and suspended all municipal Christmas events and lighting of central squares and monuments until further notice. He also expressed deep sorrow over the incidents which have impacted on Athens’ commercial centre and economy, further affecting the psychology of the marketplace and workers.

Mayor Kaklamanis assured business owners and citizens whose property suffered damage that municipal services would invest every possible effort in restoration works so as to re-establish stability in a time of economic crisis which is affecting the majority of Athenians. Toward this end, Mayor Kaklamanis will submit a proposal to City Council suggesting that business establishments which suffered damage receive an exemption from payment of 2009 municipal rates.

In light of the dramatic incidents which have taken place in recent hours, Mayor Kaklamanis underlined the need for and expressed the hope that the mourning for our young fellow citizen would be the final, painful consequence of a social and institutional approach to organisation and behaviour which deprives the capital and its residents of the ability to build that which they truly deserve: A model of constructive everyday life in an urban environment of social, economic and cultural ties which have a positive effect on humans, the environment and our future.

Mayor Kaklamanis emphasised that the multifaceted crisis should inspire a new, collective conscience that would transform this crisis into the final opportunity for an evaluation of all positions and perceptions which presently fill the social fabric and national life with wounds, wounds which, unfortunately, have proven lethal.