Greece threatens to seize German assets over war reparations for Distomo
First entry: 11 March 2015
Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos warned on Wednesday he is ready to sign a Supreme Court ruling giving permission to implement the order to pay the families of the victims of Nazi atrocities in Distomo during World War II.
The country’s top court ruled in favor of the Distomo survivors in 2000, but the decision has not been enforced.
The decision provides for the foreclosure of German assets in Greece and Paraskevopoulos argues that the ruling remains enforceable. The minister first stated his intention during a debate in Parliament on Tuesday, amid applause from lawmakers.
Speaking in Parliament before Paraskevopoulos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused Germany of using legal tricks to avoid paying reparations for the Nazi occupation of Greece and said he would support parliamentary efforts to review the matter.
"The law states that in order to implement the decision of the Supreme Court, the minister of justice has to order it. I believe this permission should be given and I’m ready to give it. Despite the obstacles," Paraskevopoulos told private TV channel ANT1. "There must probably be some negotiation with Germany," he added.
The other side – Germany – has to respect the decision and "the facts", Paraskevopoulos said, but noted his decision would rest on contemporary "national issues."
"The time for enforcing of this process – considering the legal complexity of the issue and the national implications - will of course depend on the political negotiations the government is involved in and the Parliament’s opinion," the minister told Parliament.
The country’s top court ruled in favor of the Distomo survivors in 2000, but the decision has not been enforced.
The decision provides for the foreclosure of German assets in Greece and Paraskevopoulos argues that the ruling remains enforceable. The minister first stated his intention during a debate in Parliament on Tuesday, amid applause from lawmakers.
Speaking in Parliament before Paraskevopoulos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accused Germany of using legal tricks to avoid paying reparations for the Nazi occupation of Greece and said he would support parliamentary efforts to review the matter.
"The law states that in order to implement the decision of the Supreme Court, the minister of justice has to order it. I believe this permission should be given and I’m ready to give it. Despite the obstacles," Paraskevopoulos told private TV channel ANT1. "There must probably be some negotiation with Germany," he added.
The other side – Germany – has to respect the decision and "the facts", Paraskevopoulos said, but noted his decision would rest on contemporary "national issues."
"The time for enforcing of this process – considering the legal complexity of the issue and the national implications - will of course depend on the political negotiations the government is involved in and the Parliament’s opinion," the minister told Parliament.
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