Venizelos not convinced by report on Greek WWII claims

Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Tuesday expressed doubts about the adequacy of a report compiled by a committee of the Legal Council of the State seeking to make Greece’s case for World War II reparations from Germany.

In comments to Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, Venizelos said he believed that following legal procedures would not work with Germany, which has consistently refused to recognize Greece’s claims for damages. “If the legal route that is being proposed is followed, the undertaking will not be successful,” Venizelos said.

He proposed that the Legal Council of the State return to the drawing board and – in talks with the Bank of Greece, Foreign Ministry and independent experts – seek to clarify Greece’s demands.

He added that he was seeking a “safe and efficient” alternative approach without determining whether this involved diplomatic contacts.