Greek Culture Minister welcomes court's decision on Thessaloniki metro antiquities

The Council of State (CoS) plenary officially published on Wednesday its approval of the removal, transfer, and new placement of antiquities found during excavations for the Venizelos stop on the Thessaloniki metro under construction, ANA reports.

The decision by Greece's highest administrative court had been announced by the Ministry of Culture as early as April 19, but the publication puts an end to a controversial issue that has raised protests by several groups, including archaeologists, and led to three injunctions filed at the court for cancellation of ministry plans.

Plans to remove the antiquities and restore them to the station site after the construction works are concluded are constitutional, legal and in line with international agreements, the CoS said, although the plenary approved the plans with a slim majority.