Greece – Berlin remains hard for reparations – Süddeutsche.de

• The Greek government has demanded of Berlin 278.7 billion euros as compensation from the Second World War. The federal government maintains its line, the question of reparations was completed.
• Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel called it a “stupid” to link the question of reparations and the current controversy over the Greek Schulde crisis together.
• A Greek government spokesman defended the trip of Greek Prime Minister Yanis Tsipras to Moscow. The EU fears that Greece could put the common EU line in Ukraine conflict risk in order to curry favor in Moscow.
• In Brussels, meanwhile, negotiations take place again. On April 24, the EU finance ministers have to decide on the payment of a 15-billion-euro loan to Greece.

By Stefan Brown, Cerstin Gammelin and Christiane Schlötzer

In an unusually pointed manner, the Federal Government and the recent Greek demands for reparations rejected.

Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel protested on Tuesday against the attempt to blend the current debate on further financial crisis in the euro with the call for reparations. “I find that quite frankly stupid,” the Vice-Chancellor said in Berlin. Both things have nothing to do with each other, but are very emotionally charged. This would benefit the stabilization of Greece “an inch ahead,” said the SPD politician.

Opposition complains insensitivity

While representatives of the Left Party and the Greens the federal government lack of sensitivity and consideration for the Greek side accused was the lead on this issue Foreign Office in the previous line of the government. The question of reparations was completed legally and politically, it said on Tuesday.

Greek reparations to Germany Displays more compassion

In Reparationsstreit with Germany Greece should not like a cool business lawyer occur. It’s not just a question of who is right. It’s about much more. Comment

Earlier, the Greek Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas called a total of 278.7 billion euros, the Germany Greece was still guilty for the reparation of war damage, a crew of credit and compensation for Nazi victims. Mardas calculations on the basis that a parliamentary committee in Athens.

Greek government defended Moscow visit

On Wednesday, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to be a first official visit to Moscow. Shortly before leaving defended a government spokesman in Athens the planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin with the words: “. This there is nothing to blame” Finance Yanis Varoufakis already declared on Monday in an interview that Greece will not ask Moscow for money.

Crisis in Greece The myth of the brother in the Kremlin

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras traveling to Moscow – and German politicians over themselves with indignation. But there is hardly anything to bring in Russia knows probably the Athenians. Comment

While Athens downplays the significance of the two-day visit to Moscow, there are warnings from Brussels, Greece should ensure uniform attitude the EU is not set in Ukraine conflict risk. Tsipras had been shown in the past week against Russian journalists skeptical about the EU sanctions against Russia. Previously, he had complaints about the impact of sanctions for their own farmers.

Greece, which is heavily dependent on Russian state-owned Gazprom in its gas supply, hopes to cheaper gas prices and Russian investments in its infrastructure, from the rail network to ports.

Re-negotiations in Brussels

On Tuesday began in Brussels and Athens again negotiations in order to pay further contributions may. This requires a credible and detailed reform list, by whose implementation the Greek economy to become competitive again. End of April is the deadline for the list.

For April 20, is now scheduled a special meeting of the Euro Group on State Parent Information of Süddeutsche Zeitung . Is there an agreement, the finance ministers will decide on April 24, during their meeting in Riga on the disbursement of almost 15 billion euros, which are still in the ongoing aid program for Greece are available. The prerequisite is that the Euro Group accepted the Greek reform list.