Culture minister backtracks on call for review of Elliniko decision

Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou has reportedly backtracked on a decision to request the reassessment of the status of several buildings at the old Athens airport in Elliniko, south of Athens, which has been slated for already-delayed development.

Kathimerini earlier revealed that Koniordou had sent a letter to her ministry’s Central Council for Modern Monuments asking for the reversal of an earlier ruling on listed buildings in the area.

Although the council had decided that only one building should be listed, the minister was asking for the reevaluation of three other structures, in line with objections raised by a local citizens' group which is against the development of the site.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that the request had been dropped as there was no fresh evidence to justify a review of the buildings’ status.