Greece consistently demands reparation for German crimes

German president Frank Walter Steinmeier during his visit to Greece was confronted with reparation claims for the war crimes of the 3rd Reich. The diary “Tageszeitung” criticises the “German stubbornness” on the issue of compensation for victims and argues with “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” in this case.

“The German president recalled German war crimes, but does not want to know anything about reparations. However, this subject remains valid," Ferry Batzoglou wrote in the Friday edition of "Tageszeitung ("TAZ").

As he stressed, Steinmeier will "remember forever" a three-day journey to Greece. The reason is not a visit to the Malakas exile camp, where a tumult occurred, which forced the German president to halt his stay here. "Steinmeier will remember that the Athens authorities confirmed their reparation claims due to German crimes during planet War II," explained the commentator.

In his opinion, Greece suffered most from Nazi crimes in relation to its size. During the war, a million people died, the country was completely destroyed, archaeological treasures were stolen – the commentator says.

– No, we won't. – stated laconically Steinmeier, quoted by “TAZ”. Batzoglou recalled that Greek claims are EUR 400 billion. If Berlin is stuck in its predicament, Greece will address global courts.

"Scandalical" calls "TAZ" a comment published on Thursday in "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". "He who inactive thinks about the financial demands for historical harm present must face the claims of the opposing party. No, you shouldn't bid on each other. But crimes in Germany stay crimes. Expulsion and execution of millions (Germans), air raids against civilians, the abuse of prisoners of war and the failure of a 4th of the state's territory – this is besides hard to give in numbers", he quoted the “TAZ” comment fragment in “FAZ”.

"(sounds) is as if Greece had attacked Germany alternatively than the another way around," concludes "TAZ".

He besides writes about Greek claims “Sueddeutsche Zeitung”. The paper recounts Steinmeier's stay in Kandanos village in Crete, where Germany killed 189 people in 1941 for revenge for guerrilla activity.

Steinmeier asked – in Greek and German – for forgiveness. The celebration was disrupted by people who shouted "justice" and "compensation" erstwhile the president spoke to witnesses of events from 83 years ago. “We will not quit until the Germans pay,” they cried in the market.

‘SZ’ recalled that the German government considers the issue of reparation to be over. However, gathering with the Greek president Katerina Sakellaropulu shows something else. She told Steinmeier that the Greek request that the Germans pay for what Greece did during planet War II, "will stay open". – The subject needs to be discussed again She added. "Steinmeier stopped nodding, seemingly amazed by the Greek woman's direct movement of the subject, staring at the floor. German position – says – is known, the issue of reparation is considered closed from the point of view of global law“ – reports gathering of Heads of State ‘SZ’.

The paper recalls that the German government has created a German-Greek fund of the future, which finances projects related to historical memory. However, the fund is presently threatened by the savings plans of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government.

Source: PAP

RoM