Gov’t revokes monastery land rulings
Economy and Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis yesterday called for the revocation of all decisions by state councils regarding the ownership of land around Lake Vistonida, in northern Greece, to allow a probe into the exchange of land between a monastery on Mount Athos and the state to get under way. The whole affair will be reviewed again from scratch, he said. Supreme Court prosecutor Giorgos Sanidas, who came under fire for exempting government ministers from the probe – on the grounds that they had been misled by their aides – is said to be scrutinizing the role played by successive PASOK governments in the transfer of land to the Vatopedi Monastery. Sources said yesterday that the bank accounts of those implicated in the affair are likely to be frozen over the next few days. Over the weekend, the monastery’s assets were frozen and the monastery’s council pledged to transfer all profits generated by land sales, along with all the corresponding contracts, into the state Deposits and Loans Fund. The Holy Assembly of Mount Athos, which only convenes in exceptional circumstances, is to meet on Friday to discuss the developments.
