Receiving Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza) Parliamentary group leader Alexis Tsipras on Thursday, Citizen's Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis noted his concern over a rise in violent crime but also his conviction that the measures announced by Prime Minister George Papandreou for the centre of Athens will yield results.
Tsipras paid a visit to Papoutsis, accompanied by two Syriza MPs, in order to present Syriza's proposals for dealing with violence and illegal migration, reviving the historic centre of Athens and democratisation of law enforcement agencies.
"I am concerned by the fact that there are many people that carry a gun on them and use it, apparently with great ease," Papoutsis remarked during the meeting, referring to Wednesday's shootout that left two police officers and one suspect injured in Pefki, now in the hands of the counter-terrorism squad.
"Dealing with violence demands awakening the democratic awareness of the citizens and mobilising everyone so as to make it clear to the whole of society that violence and fear have no place in a modern democracy," Papoutsis said after the meeting.
The minister also assured Tsipras that the Greek police would do their job with "self-denial and discipline" and with absolute respect for the laws, using only the legally sanctioned level of force.
ANA
