Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during his visit to the Presidential Mansion where he met with President of the Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, referred to the need to safeguard the character of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as to the importance of Greece’s participation in the signing of the peace agreement in the Middle East.

“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier carries symbolic weight — it is identified with the nation’s history,” Mr. Mitsotakis stressed, noting that the monument is a cenotaph for all those who gave their lives for their homeland and thus requires special protection.

Referring to similar monuments abroad, such as Arlington, Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out that the new legislative regulation both protects the constitutional right of assembly and recognizes the need to treat certain historically significant monuments differently.

Commenting on the opposition parties, the Prime Minister remarked that they “rushed to engage in a kind of out-of-place and out-of-time revolutionary exercise.” However, he added, “we must agree on what is obvious and self-evident and preserve the monument’s character.”

According to Mr. Mitsotakis, under the new legislative regulation announced yesterday, responsibility for maintaining order around the monument will remain with the Ministry of Citizen Protection, while the duties transferred to the Ministry of National Defense will concern the monument’s maintenance and cleaning.

In his response, Mr. Tasoulas called on the Prime Minister to allow time for dialogue to mature, in order to “depoliticize the issue and detach it from current political debates,” while also examining how similar monuments are treated in other countries.

“The monument symbolizes the nation’s struggles and its bloodiest battles,” he said, reminding that in the past, guard posts were burned by Molotov cocktails. The Presidential Guard had to commission fire-resistant posts from a specialized manufacturer — something that could have been avoided if protective measures for the monument had existed.

“Greece present at the signing of a historic agreement”

Mr. Mitsotakis also referred to developments in the Middle East and to the invitation Greece received from Donald Trump to participate in the Gaza conference.

“We are all moved by the scenes of hostages being freed two years after Hamas’s horrific invasion of Israel. This chapter seems to be closing,” Mitsotakis said, noting that this opens the way to achieving something “much greater.”

The Prime Minister congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump for his persistence in addressing the long-standing Palestinian issue.

Greece, he said, wishes to offer its services to those coordinating the next steps.

“What is happening today may mark the beginning of an effort through which this conflict might finally end in a political solution — two states coexisting peacefully, without one threatening the other,” he stated, calling it the only viable outcome.

“Greece is present at the signing of a historic agreement — a cornerstone for peace in the Middle East,” Mitsotakis emphasized, telling the President that Greece “communicates reliably with all sides as a pillar of stability.”

Mr. Tasoulas described the agreement as being of “historic importance,” since the peace treaty — “masterminded by Donald Trump, who deserves congratulations” — seeks to bring peace after more than 76 years of turmoil, seemingly aiming for a lasting and peaceful coexistence.

The President also highlighted Greece’s continued engagement in the region:

“We have always been in dialogue with both sides, we participated in humanitarian aid to Gaza, we hosted children in Greek hospitals. We have maintained a stance showing that Greece plays a role in the region,” he said, expressing hope that the country will also contribute to the “desired reconstruction of Gaza.”