Athens News Agency: News in English, 12-02-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] German WWII reparations issue aired in Parliament

[02] Samaras to MPs: 'End this 2 1/2-year miserable chapter'

[03] First Orthodox schools in Sierra Leone inaugurated

[01] German WWII reparations issue aired in Parliament

In a current question to the prime minister tabled in parliament, Karatzaferis underlined that the recent negative ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, affecting the case of the south-central Greek village of Distomo, highlights the obvious responsibility that lies with the Greek governments and the justice ministers that have served in office until today. He also underlined that the activation of the Greek First Instance Court ruling on the confiscation of German property in Greece is imperative.

The judgment issued by the ICJ affects the case of the south-central Greek village of Distomo, where Nazi troops killed 214 civilians on June 10, 1944, one of the numerous instances of WWII atrocities in occupied Greece.

In a document forwarded to parliament on Tuesday, FM Stavros Dimas underlined that the Greek government will study the ICJ ruling issued on the case that concerned the confiscation of German property on Italian soil for reparations to be paid to victims of Distomo massacre. He underlined that the issue of German war reparations is still open and that Greece raises the issue regularly within the framework of bilateral meetings between senior government officials and competent ministries

[02] Samaras to MPs: 'End this 2 1/2-year miserable chapter'

Samaras again stepped up his sharp criticism of both PASOK party and the leftist parties, saying that "we are not all the same". He also sent a message to expelled ND deputies, defending his support of the latest bailout package.

He stressed the need for a government with heightened self-sufficiency, one which will proceed with radical changes and reforms that the country demands. amna

"We will take out, once and for all, the image of Greece in crisis and bring it to the front line of the struggle for the recovery of all Europe." www.amna.gr

At the same time, he defended his party's strategic option to participate in the Papademos government and support the new loan contract, replying to criticism against him over the decision, noting the completely different circumstances of May 2010 with the current one, as he said.

He pointed out that with the current Memorandum agreement the country's debt is being given a "haircut", and the repayment period is being extended, something that reduces the risk of a eurozone exit and Greece's abandonment by its partners. amna

[03] First Orthodox schools in Sierra Leone inaugurated

The Patriarch also inaugurated the pedagogical institute of the Archdiocese and the country�s first school of journalism.

In a meeting with government officials, Theodoros discussed regional and public health issues focusing on combating diseases, such as AIDS and malaria.

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