Souflias statement irks Greens
Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias yesterday incurred the wrath of 10 environmental organizations after insisting there was no need for his ministry to be split in order for a separate environment ministry to be established. «Sustainability and development must coexist,» said Souflias, adding that the possibility of splitting his ministry could be re-examined in about three years. The environmental groups responded by issuing a joint statement labeling Souflias’s remark as «provocative.» They also attacked his environmental record during the last three-and-a-half years he served as minister, noting it was quite unique for a European Union member to have the Public Works and Environment departments combined in one ministry. Following this summer’s wildfires, calls for a separate environment ministry have increased. Although the government did not commit itself to making the change, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis did not rule out the possibility. Souflias was more outspoken in his opposition to any split. However, the minister said that he would stand in the way of any plans to build on burned land in Zacharo, western Peloponnese, after reports that a deal had been struck between local authorities and the Economy and Finance Ministry providing for the development of certain areas around the resort. «There will be no attacks on the environment in areas which have been stricken by wildfires and are protected by the European Union’s Natura program,» said Souflias, adding that 4.5 billion euros from the EU’s Fourth Community Support Framework would immediately be made available for environmental projects.
