The Greek government is scrambling to introduce the final amendments to the contract with Chinese company COSCO over the renewal of the concession of the Piraeus Port Authority (OLP), amid a barrage of harsh criticism by the opposition parties against the government and Fishing Minister Nikos Dritsas.
The whole controversy has caused a diplomatic incident, as a source told protothema.gr, with the Chinese embassy submitting an official remonstration in the morning to the Greek Foreign Ministry over the unilateral violation of the document signed on April 8 by the two countries’ Prime Ministers. The formal complaint claims the alteration of the agreement disrupts the excellent Greco-Chinese relations and undermines the investment of the Chinese company in the port of Piraeus.
According to information, the President of the privatisation Fund (TAIPED), Stergios Pistiorlas and the Greek Minister of State, Alekos Flambouraris are involved in deliberations in an attempt to convince Dritsas to withdraw the seven changes he included in the ratified law, but he seems adamant and is willing to withdraw only two or three of his changes, which the Chinese consider the least important.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are blasting the Greek government, accusing it of jeopardising the country’s reliability. This comedy of of errors is taking place just before Greek PM Alexis Tsipra is preparing his official visit to China.
The row forced Minister for Shipping Thodoris Dritsas to acknowledge that the state had intervened in the document, but defended his actions in parliament saying it was within its rights. According to sources, the embroilment caught the PM Alexis Tsipras off guard, who was oblivious to the changes. Dritsas is expected to include the necessary amendments in the contract to be submitted to the parliamentary committee and make the necessary clarifications on the issue, Thursday.
Source:protothema.gr
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