Berlin rejected calls from Greek Minister Alexis Tsipras during the International Fair in Thessaloniki, that Germany should pay compensations for Nazi atrocities to Greece. The spokesman of Germany’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that “We will not negotiate with Greece over compensations”, while the Chancellery’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said that “the issue has been closed, legally and politically”.
Alexis Tsipras, on the other hand, seemed really confident that this issue would be closed. On Sunday, he gave an answer to Der Spiegel, saying that it is not a matter of communication for him but a matter of honour for Greece and Greek people. It is an issue that counts not only for the two countries, but German citizens as well, Europe and all European people who resisted the Nazis. He also said that SYRIZA will not put the matter in the drawer, like previous Governments did and that they will make their next move, depending on when they will decide that it will be the best ‘timing’.