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Paris hosts protest in support of Greece

At least 2,000 people marched through the streets of Paris on Sunday to voice their support for Greece against what they called "the Goliath of finance".

Published: 16 February 2015 08:47 CET
Paris hosts protest in support of Greece
Protesters march through Paris in support of Greece. Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

Police estimated that some 2,000 people heeded the call from unions and far-left organisations to hit the streets in support of Greece and its new leftist anti-austerity government.

Marchers unfurled flags from the Syriza party of new Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and chanted: "In Greece, in France, resistance against austerity and finance."

"We're here to make heard the voice of a people which is fighting for its future against the anti-democratic attacks of the European institutions," said Nordine Idir, 29, from the young communists.

"A different politics is possible based on the division of wealth, but we have to change the European way of thinking and maybe Greece is starting that," he added.

Some 400 people also marched in France's second city Marseille.

Ahead of a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels on Monday, Greece has expressed confidence that a deal with the EU over its loathed bailout could be reached, but also warned the February 28 deadline may be too tight.

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ANGELA MERKEL

German war crime payments debated in Greece

Greece's parliament on Wednesday began a debate on a resolution to demand the payment of German war crime reparations, an issue long disputed by Berlin.

Published: 17 April 2019 12:21 CEST
German war crime payments debated in Greece
Angela Merkel and Alexis Tsipras in Greece in January. Photo: DPA

“These demands are always active. They were never set aside by Greece,” parliament chairman Nikos Voutsis told reporters this week.

The chamber is expected to approve later Wednesday, with cross-party support, a resolution calling on the government of Premier Alexis Tsipras “to take all the necessary diplomatic and legal steps to claim and fully satisfy all the demands of the Greek state stemming from World War I and World War II”.

A parliamentary committee last year determined that Germany owes Greece at least €270 billion for World War I damages and looting, atrocities and a forced loan during the Nazi occupation in World War II.

Reclaiming war reparations has been a campaign pledge by Tsipras since 2015. He faces multiple electoral challenges this year, with his party trailing in polls.

'Historical responsibility'

During a visit to Greece in January, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country “recognised its historical responsibility.”

SEE ALSO: Merkel says Germany recognizes responsibility for Nazi war crimes in Greece

“We recognize our historical responsibility. We know how much suffering we, as Germany in the time of Nazism, have brought to Greece,” she said.

In 2014, ex-president Joachim Gauck had also sought public forgiveness in the name of Germany from relatives of those murdered by the Nazis in the mountains of northern Greece.

But when it comes to actual payments, the German government has always insisted that the issue was settled in 1960 in a deal with several European governments.

Germany's government spokesman Steffen Seibert reiterated Wednesday that “the reparation issue is judicially and politically settled”. 

He said Berlin is doing “everything it can so Greece and Germany maintain good relations as friends and partners”. 

During the Greek economic crisis, there was further tension in Athens over draconian EU austerity and bailout terms seen to be imposed by Berlin hardliners.

Relations have improved over the last three years after Tsipras' government endorsed conditions linked to satisfying its creditors.

Tsipras and Merkel also worked closely on finding common ground on migration and Balkans security.

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