ATHENS CITY MAYOR NIKITAS KAKLAMANIS
Jan 17th, 2008 by admin
Nikitas Kaklamanis was born in the Cycladic island of Andros 52 years ago. A medical doctor,former European parliamentarian and government minister. He became mayor of Athens in 2007. Three weeks after taking office, he joined the mayors of Rome and Paris to call for a world wide abolition of the death penalty.
It is, undoubtedly, a position of enormous responsibility. And, above all, it is a position which involves dedication, love and vision for the city. Without these elements, one cannot expect results.
As the Mayor of Athens, one is called upon to deal with numerous, pressing matters. Cleanliness, effective waste management, increased green space, the securing of equal opportunities for all citizens and residents of
Immigration is a social reality which we must face without fear. In this way, we view migrants not as a covert enemy but as a valuable element of today’s society, individuals who make a substantial contribution to development. For this reason, we are developing initiatives which utilize diversity and multiformity in a way which: promotes the concept of cohesion, with respect for the values and aspirations of all citizens regardless of their ethnicity and cultural background; ensures equal opportunities for all migrants with respect to their participation and development in social, political and economic life; assures that all migrants feel at home in Athens so that they respect the city and build their future here. We want migrants to be considered familiar rather than foreign, neighbours rather than guests. We want
The problem, of course, is not immigration in itself nor is it the migrants who want to live and work in
The status of long-term residents is determined by the Ministry of the Interior. Migrants may apply for a long-term residence permit after five years of living and working in
This is a central government issue. Municipalities, on their own, cannot provide solutions to all problems.
As I mentioned earlier,
Of course. First, the City of Athens regularly organizes Greek-language classes for adult migrants, as this was acknowledged as a basic need through our contacts with community representatives. Also, the municipality organizes basic computer skills seminars in order to improve participants’ chances of securing employment and contribute to their smooth social integration. A steady flow of information and advice is offered to migrants in order to facilitate their integration into Greek society. The problem is that a considerable number of the migrants in question do not possess or provide identification documents.
The pre-election period was so brief that I am afraid numerous important matters were not addressed. Certainly, immigration is a tough issue and political parties, fearful of the political cost, are hard-pressed to deal with it.
The African community is one of the city’s most beloved. I understand the difficulties which all migrants face, and I am certain these will be solved through our joint efforts. What is most important is that we view life in the city in a similar fashion. All who wish to live and work in
Plans will be implemented as part of the upgrading of the city’s multi-lingual radio station Athens International Radio 104.4 FM. Additionally, a communications office will be set up in each City District, while a CD is in the works, featuring music from around the world, including African songs, of course.