The Greek government is expected to introduce urgent amendments, Thursday to the contract signed between the Greek state and Chinese company Cosco, following the controversy caused after the latter accused the government of making unilateral changes to the terms of agreement for the concession of the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP). Cosco sent a letter, Wednesday, to the Greek privatisation Fund (TAIPED) and the competent parliamentary committee claiming the government had submitted a different agreement from what had initially been agreed upon. The company’s representatives expressed their ‘unfortunate surprise’ in the letter underlining the Greek government had unilaterally altered key contractual terms on the bid Cosco had made for the renewal on the concession of OLP.

The row forced Minister for Shipping Thodoris Dritsas to acknowledge that the state had intervened in the document, but defended his actions in parliament saying it was within its rights. According to sources, the embroilment caught the PM Alexis Tsipras off guard, who was oblivious to the changes. Dritsas is expected to include the necessary amendments in the contract to be submitted to the parliamentary committee and make the necessary clarifications on the issue, Thursday.