Kammenos makes media threat, compares euro talks to resistance against Ottomans
Defense Minister Panos Kammenos drew parallels on Wednesday between Greece’s negotiations with the eurozone and Greeks’ resistance to Ottoman occupiers more than two centuries ago.
The leader of junior coalition partner Independent Greeks also made a provocative comment regarding Skai TV.
Speaking to reporters, Kammenos made reference to the efforts of the Souliotes from northwestern Greece at the beginning of the 19th century to resist the advance of the Ottoman Empire.
He suggested that if Greece’s proposal for an agreement is turned down, the government would react like a group of Souliotes who blew themselves up at Kougi Fortress rather than fall into the hands of the Ottomans.
“If we do not get what we want from negotiations, we’ll do a Kougi,” he told reporters.
Later in the day, Kammenos met Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the premier’s office. The Independent Greeks leader was asked to clarify the comment regarding Kougi by journalists.
“When you are determined to fight for what is right, your are determined to go all the way,” he said. “We will not water down the mandate that the people have given us. The mandate is clear and it is to change policy.”
Kammenos then appeared to make reference to Skai TV, which has been targeted by hand grenades and Molotov cocktails in the past.
“Maybe some channels, especially near Piraeus, have not been blown up but the Greek family has been blown up,” he told journalists. “Unemployment is very high and you will have to look at that at some point.”
