Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the memorial for the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York, accompanied by his wife Mareva Grabowski – Mitsotaki.
The Prime Minister and his wife visited the site of the plates inscribed with the names of the people who lost their lives in the Twin Towers, together with Anthoula Katsimatidis, who lost her brother, Yiannis, in the attacks. They stopped on the site where the victims of Greek origin are listed and placed small Greek flags and white flowers.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis laid a wreath in honor of the victims at the Survivor Tree, a tree that was found almost destroyed in the ruins of the Towers. The Survivor Tree managed to recover due to human care and was replanted in the memorial area.
“I felt the need to come today to this holy place to leave a flower and lay a wreath in memory of the 2,977 innocent people who lost their lives unjustly in the 9/11 terrorist attack. Among them were 41 Greek-Americans, one of whom was Yiannis, who was trapped on the 104th floor when the first plane hit the North Tower,” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“The fight against terrorism is a constant battle, it is a fight that we have an obligation to give, as democracies, in order to be able to preserve our way of life and to be able to continue to function in open democratic societies like the ones we have built with so much effort”, pointed out the Prime Minister. “We will always continue to honor the victims of terrorism – because we in our country have also been hurt by our own domestic terrorism – and we will never forget them,” he added.
“I am very glad that you have come today to honor us with your presence, at this point which is so important to me. My brother, Yiannis, was an incredible kid. A young and brave man, full of joy and love,” said Mrs. Katsimatidis on her part.
“Saint Nicholas, a church that symbolizes hope and unity”
Τhe Prime Minister, later, visited Saint Nicholas Greek Othrodox Church, which was destroyed on September 11, 2001, but was rebuilt, due to a large contribution by the Greek-American community. It is expected to function normally as a church in the coming period.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife were welcomed by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who gave them a tour of the site, while the architect who designed the new church, Santiago Calatrava, explained the plan until the completion of the project.
“It is indeed a spectacular building. I would say it is a building that is fully aligned with the particular spiritual importance of this place. Right next to a site of pain and suffering. A church that symbolises hope and unity. I am sure it will become a landmark of New York and a beacon of hope for everyone who visits it”, stressed the Prime Minister.
