Athens is not amused by Berlin debt crisis jokes

El Paso News.Net
Saturday 13th March, 2010

Greece has lashed out at German jokes following the country's severe economic crisis, which has seen the entire EU community pulled into a debate over how best to help Greece out, if at all.

“No, I don’t think its funny and I don’t think it’s a joke,” said Pavlos Geroulanos, the Minister of Tourism and Culture.

His remarks came after tongue-and-cheek suggestions that Greece should auction the Acropolis, or sell some of its uninhabited islands to raise capital to finance its debt.

Amusing in Berlin, but not Athens.

Such comments might seem harmless on the face of it, but even light-hearted suggestions such as the selling of islands, come to-close-to-home for leader in Greece, who have already seen their financial sovereignty undermined…the thought of selling parts of Greece cannot be countenanced.

“I think comments like that are unfortunate and not building trust between the people,” the minister went on to say.

Germans are significantly opposed to providing any financial support to Greece, however, even though they share the euro and the EU community.
The tensions come at a sensitive time, just before the summer holiday season.

Twenty-percent of the economy in Greece is provided through tourism revenue, and there are fears that fewer Germans will visit this season (German tourists make up the majority of foreign visitors to Greece).

The Minister of Tourism and Culture added that the current tiff between Berlin and Athens would not influence the treatment of German tourists in Greece.

"They will find nothing less than Greek hospitality," he said.

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