Greek finance ministry calculating German war reparations bill

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Bloomberg:

Greece’s Finance Ministry will calculate the country’s claim for World War II reparations against Germany, Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said.

The General Accounting Office will make the calculation for the first time, Staikouras said today in response to a question from a lawmaker from the Independent Greeks party. The ministry has begun collecting archival material to be examined by a group of experts, he said.

“The German reparations are a particularly complex legal issue and subject to study and settlement at an international level in accordance with the rules of international law,” Staikouras said. “The case is still outstanding, and as a country we reserve the right and the possibility to manage it to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Some Greek politicians have evoked memories of the country’s Nazi occupation during World War II since the start of the country’s debt crisis. During the country’s election campaigns in May and June Independent Greeks demanded Germany pay reparations.

Read the whole story: Bloomberg

Comments

Stop wasting your time

September 5, 2012 by Jim Adams (Germany ), 37 weeks 1 day ago

Stop wasting your time (and everybody else's) on WWII reparations. You ain't getting them. How about your start introducing plans on how to save the Greek nation from falling off the cliff? Talking about reparations is just trying to shift the focus and the blame away from government incompetence through the years.

Re: Stop wasting your time

September 5, 2012 by gohdenny22 (Canada ), 37 weeks 1 day ago

@Jim Adams:
You're partly right Jim... However, if Greece exercises its right to the war reparations at the world Court in the Hague, that would oblige Germany to pay for everything that was stolen..Germany has paid reparations to every country involved except for Greece...
Germany wants to Greece to pay back loans at loan shark rates but are playing dumb to what they owe Greece...Hypocrisy at its best....

Re: Stop wasting your time

September 5, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 37 weeks 1 day ago

@gohdenny22:
I am not questioning whether Greece is entitled to reparations. I am simply stating that Greece has zero chance of getting anything. Political leaders are responsible for weighing circumstances and pursuing attainable targets. Not taking the nation on a wild goose chase. This is how the rest of the world sees it:
Does Germany Owe Greece $95 Billion from WW II?

Re: Stop wasting your time

September 6, 2012 by gohdenny22 (Canada ), 37 weeks 19 hours ago

@Jim Adams:
You're right.. There is no question that our politicians, primarily 2 families have been bought to maintain the status quo...We need politicians to step up and fight for this country, otherwise we can pretty much take Hellas out of all maps...

Up yours Jim Adams

September 6, 2012 by manos2 (Australia ), 37 weeks 1 day ago

Greece is Entitled to pursue this matter of War reparation payments for the destruction of villages,infrastucture, the murder of over 1 million Greek civilians and the looting of its assets. The Germans scums have a short memory, after WW2 the world abolished the debts of the German Govt. I would perhaps agree with you that Greece doesnt stand a chance, but maybe if Greece pulls out of EU and NATO and gives the Green light to the Russians to establish military bases including nuclear missles in Greece, then its a different ball game.

Greece needs a govt with balls to stand up to the EU scums. A leader like Georgios Papadopoulos is needed.

Re: Up yours Jim Adams

September 6, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 37 weeks 20 hours ago

@manos2:
Out of EU, NATO... Jump in bed with the Russians... Nuclear missiles in Greece, and Papadopoulos is needed? What are you on? Are you smoking your vegemite lately?

PS. What's with the 'sexual invitation'? Are you so frustrated sexually that you cannot participate in any type of conversation with others?

Jim Adams - What malakies are you talking about

September 7, 2012 by manos2 (Australia ), 37 weeks 1 hour ago

Jim Adams - What malakies are you talking about.
We dont smoke vegemite unlike you yanks that snort bathroom salts. How ever with the ciggarette prices in Australia @ $20 a pack probably smoking vegemite might be an alternate.

As sexual invititions what the f@ck your on about.

As your president Obama allowing Gays to join the US Army, you will probably make a good candidate.

Know getting to the point, Greece should take a Hardline against the EU and escpecially Germany. Germany is not the only economic power, so is CHINA.Greece should approach China for loans and other investments. We in Australia, unlike in the US, Australia has benefited from China investments and we have a high living standards compared to the US. But we too a have a stupid Govt in Australia.

Yes but...

September 7, 2012 by Irlandos (United Kingdom ), 36 weeks 6 days ago

The Americans are to blame for Germany coming out of WW II better off economically-speaking than they did in WW I. They thought the WW I payments were excessive and possibly a cause for WW II, and would not have the same situation again.

Greece ended up paying for it as she was - once again - taken for granted.

We are historically entitled to repayment of the loan and reparations but, without a doubt, we will not get it any more than Hungary will be rewarded the 1954 World Cup.

All that aside, can we PLEASE stop arguing amongst ourselves? The culprits are in Washington!

Well said John

September 7, 2012 by manos2 (Australia ), 36 weeks 6 days ago

Well said John - I agree. The culprits are also CORRUPT Greek Politicians over the decades as well!

Jim Adams or shall i say Currywurst ...

September 11, 2012 by Zak the Greek (United Arab Emirates ), 36 weeks 2 days ago

If Jim is American than I am German , being born and raised in Germany I can tell you blindly the way he writes he is German and by using an American name I can see that he hasnt got the balls to stay for what he is . He we have two crucial Point !!
1. Greek system is a farse and Politicians represent their interests not the ones of their Citizen.
Yes, fully agree , we will resolve this issue . But as european brothers we should help each other and show understanding for what is going on but I can see the Dream of a United EU is and will be a Dream ! Everybody things about their Pockets their is not the " WE " things existing .
2. Greece has the right to these Funds . Mister Bratwurst Adams , why shall the poor Greeks that got slaughter by ruthless Nazi germans not receive Funds !! Are they the greek politicians that were wrong doing ? Germany has to pay and will pay BE SURE !! It was only a matter of time until they said " NOW " .Stop buying German Products , cars , LIDL , ALDI etc

Re: Jim Adams or shall i say Currywurst ...

September 12, 2012 by Jim Adams (United States ), 36 weeks 1 day ago

@Zak the Greek:
Hey Zak. Love you too!
The 'reparations' story is a political move for domestic consumption. No serious politician in the international arena would give it a second thought. It is meant to drum up nationalism and patriotic fervor. Now, if Greeks can boycott German products, that's a different story. I'm not confident that they can.