Informed of the loss of Yiannis Boutaris, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni made the following statement:

“We bid farewell to Yiannis Boutaris, a man of rare gifts, who left an indelible and deep mark wherever he passed. In entrepreneurship, in civil society, in culture, in sport, in public life.

His involvement with the public came as a very natural continuation of his long career as an active citizen and his successful business career, with pioneering techniques and bold innovations. He founded ”Arktouros”, supported the basketball section of ”Aris”, contributed, with his active presence, to the operation of the Great Music Hall and as president of the International Film Festival in Thessaloniki.

With this solid background, Yiannis Boutaris easily passed to the mayoralty. During his nine-year term, he managed to change the city’s physiognomy, opening channels to channel its underlying dynamism into the economy, culture and tourism. He has shown its historical burden, highlighting its long past, honouring equally all the cultures that have left their mark on the city. It attracted a large number of visitors who were fascinated by the coexistence of a great history and a dynamic present. Boutaris contributed substantially to making Thessaloniki what it has always been: Metropolis and crossroads of people, cultures, exchanges and smells.

The most important thing is that he managed to do all this without giving up his values, ideas and principles. Without rounding off his speech, without resorting to embellishments.

I have had the good fortune and pleasure to work with him for many years and on many things. To appreciate his integrity. To witness his perseverance in what he believed in. To affirm his love and concern for his city. To admire his civic civility and his political culture, even when our views were diametrically opposed. Our last discussions focused on the revival, in innovative ways, of the wine-making activity on the Tatoi estate. His loss deprives us of a radiant man and, personally, of a dear friend. To his family I extend my sincere condolences.”