Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos late on Monday in an interview with Star TV referred to the negotiation with the partners, the investigation committee for the memorandum, the Greek debt and Germany’s stance. He stressed that the country’s sovereignty, its mineral wealth, homes and businesses of Greek citizens will not be mortgaged. He did not say no to an “honorable compromise” with the lenders, he added, however, that their failure to meet the agreements deprives the compromise of such features. He assessed based on the behavior of lenders that “they do not want an agreement.” He reminded that the mandate of the Greek people summed up to the defense of the national sovereignty, the end of the internal devaluation and termination of the policy ‘that devastated the country.” If the lenders say no to what has been agreed, which include the payment of the tranches to the country, then we will pay the installments and we will make sure we develop the Greek economy, wherever possible, but this means “they chose the impasse,” he said. He said if there are any dilemmas that will question the will of the Greek people, then “they will speak up through elections or a referendum.” He said the county has got nothing during the last eight months, however it has been paying its tranches and at the same it operates. Regarding payments, he did not question “the IMF money that will be paid,” but the ECB and the lenders. He added that the “red lines” are further cuts in pensions and wages, mass layoffs as well as the privatizations of productive units, of the PPC, of OLP or the site of the former Elliniko airport. He ruled out the imposing of increased VAT on the islands. He lashed out at Germany saying it was after the country’s political submission, as well as to send out a messaged that “Germany rules Europe.” He also said that the government and the Finance minister have not agreed or signed anything binding for the country. Asked on the government’s plan in case of rupture, he made clear that Greece does not want a Grexit and added that we will defend the sovereignty of the Greek people. He said that in such a case, the government would reach agreements with anyone it can, apart from the lenders and cited as an example countries such as the United States, Russia, China, India and Middle East countries. Asked on the joint exploitation of the mineral wealth of the Aegean with the US, he said he spoke of “internationally recognized rates of joint exploitation” and added that the declaration of the EEZ and the joint exploitation of the mineral wealth are associated with the strategic choices that the country will make. (source: ana-mpa)
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