Schaeuble turns down prospect of WWII reparations
Less than a week after the publication of a top-secret report compiled at the behest of the Finance Ministry in Athens which suggested that Germany owes Greece billions in World War II reparations, Berlin has once again rejected the prospect of compensation.
“The issue was settled a long time ago. Paying reparations is out of the question,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said according to reports in the media.
The report which was drafted by a team of experts at the Finance Ministry and leaked by To Vima newspaper on Sunday suggested that Greece is owed 162 billion euros in World War II reparations from Berlin.
According to the report experts found that Germany should pay Greece 108 billion euros for damage to infrastructure and 54 billion euros for a loan that the Nazi occupation forces obliged Greece to take in order to pay Berlin during the war.
The reparations are equivalent to about 80 percent of Greek gross domestic product.
“I deem that such statements are irresponsible,” Schauble was quoted as saying. “Instead of misleading the people in Greece it would be better to show them the road to reforms.”
