Minister of State: We won't break previous contracts with investors

Minister of State Alekos Flampouraris underlined on Saturday that the new government does not intend to break the contracts that have already been signed by the previous government with regard to the privatizations in the country, except in "extreme cases."

Talking to private MEGA TV, Flampouraris underlined that the government's intention is to "discuss the revision of the contracts with the contracting parties, based on two axes: the protection of the public interest and the safeguarding of the work relations."

However, he said that the privatizations deals for which no contract has been signed yet will be halted. It should be noted that these deals include the leasing of 14 ? often loss-making ? regional airports to Germany's Fraport and the Greek energy firm Copelouzos, as well as the privatization of the old state-run and now mostly closed Xenia hetel chain ? a 1960s and 1970s funded construction and management program once considered a showcase for state involvement in the tourism sector, but now in a dilapidated state.

"For us the airports are not a package, as the previous government viewed them. However, we may agree at some point to a partnership between private investors and municipalities," Flampouraris said.