Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the recent arrests in two high-profile cases of political violence during his weekly review: the murder of Vagia Nestora and the 2008 Marfin Bank arson attack — a triple homicide that claimed the lives of pregnant Angeliki Papathanasopoulou, Epaminondas Tsakalis, and Paraskevi Zouli.
A Commitment to Justice
Mitsotakis stated: “On Friday, arrests were made in connection with four murders of fellow citizens that have deeply wounded our society. I refer both to the recent killing of Vagia Nestora and to the 16-year-old murders at Marfin Bank. One day after Nestora’s funeral, the state acted on its firm commitment not to let these cases fade into obscurity. With the arrest of the suspects, a decisive step has been taken toward delivering justice — and fulfilling a moral obligation to the victims of the Marfin attack, their families, and colleagues.”
He emphasized that democracy’s response to violence is never vengeance, but the rule of law, institutional integrity, and effective action by authorities. “Now, the judicial process begins,” he added.
Unity Against Extremism
Mitsotakis welcomed voices of unity and solidarity amid this difficult moment. “Against terrorism, there is no room for asterisks or justifications — only a common front that denies perpetrators of violence any trace of tolerance or political alibi. This is the very least we owe to the memory of every victim of political violence — and to future generations.”
Greece’s Role in NATO
Turning to Greece’s participation in the recent NATO summit, Mitsotakis underscored the country’s steadfastness amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. “Greece remains a stable and reliable ally — unwavering in its national positions,” he said.
He reaffirmed Greece’s long-standing commitment to collective security and highlighted concrete steps: achieving the NATO defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2026, and launching the largest modernization program for the Armed Forces in decades — valued at €28 billion.
“The strength of a defensive alliance is measured not only in equipment, but in adherence to shared principles — and cohesion is also tested through good-neighborly relations,” he noted. While Greece consistently pursues constructive ties with all regional countries, he stressed that this does not mean ignoring Turkey’s longstanding casus belli declaration — an historical anomaly incompatible with relations between neighboring states.
“We seek dialogue, but peace and cooperation cannot coexist with threats of war,” Mitsotakis asserted — a principle he described as non-negotiable and consistently communicated to all allies.
Finally, he pointed out that in a time when global crises directly impact citizens’ livelihoods and daily life, Greece continues prioritizing economic resilience and social stability.