ATHENS — "We came here because we want to contribute with projects to the healing of the great wounds that opened in 2018," Environment and Energy Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said on Thursday at an event held today in Mati and marked the beginning of the consultation for the Special Urban Plan for the area.

Mati is a fire-stricken area where many people died in 2018.

The plan that, according to the minister, aims to "put an order in the wider region and help so that phenomena like the one we experienced two years ago are avoided."

Hatzidakis made it clear that he and the team from the Environment and Energy ministry worked systematically to fulfill the commitment they earlier gave in parliament to present the plan by the end of July.

"We want to listen to your views. We came here in order to start the official consultation. This is not part of public relations. I want to hear your remarks and within the framework of the logic and the principles that I have described to you, we will incorporate your proposals to the plan," the Minister underlined.

"We attach great importance to today's meeting and the consultation, so that we have a perfect plan for the area of Mati that will create the conditions for a new life, for a sustainable town in the place where an unspeakable tragedy was held," concluded Hatzidakis.