The Greek Minister of the Environment pledged on Tuesday to stop illegal construction on the tourist island of Mykonos in the Aegean Sea, after the attack on an archaeologist apparently linked to a dispute over a local real estate project.
“
The law will be applied to Mykonos
,” Kostas Skrekas said in a statement, adding that no new construction permits would be granted in rural areas of the island outside of the current urban plan.
“
No illegal project will be legalized
”, he assured, “
there will be no escape
”.
"
The perpetrators of the criminal and mafia attack against the archaeologist will be punished
," added the minister.
Buildings “out of control”
This statement comes after an attack on March 7 against an archaeologist working in the Cyclades, Manolis Psarros, beaten outside his home in Athens by unidentified assailants.
A Greek police unit specializing in blackmail cases is investigating the attack.
According to the Association of Greek Archaeologists, illegal construction in Mykonos is "
out of control
".
Mykonos, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece, attracted over two million tourists last year.
