Greek parties clash in Parliament over Saudi munitions contract

ATHENS – Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras charged the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party and its leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis of trying to destabilize the country, during an a speech in Parliament on Monday addressing a controversial munitions sale to Saudi Arabia.

The opposition had tabled a question to National Defence Minister Panos Kammenos over the sale. Tsipras had said he would also address Parliament because he wanted to reply to “Your purpose is not to strike a blow against Kammenos, your purpose it to strike a blow agains the government,” Tsipras said, charging the main opposition with “trying to create destabilizing conditions because (ND) do not want this government to take the country out of the crisis.”

Addressing ND, the premier said that “this government is succeeding where you failed for five years” and added that the government “will not just take the country out of the crisis, it will win the next national elections as well.

Defence minister

 The agreement for the sale of munitions to Saudi Arabia was “a totally legal agreement between states without any middlemen,” Defence Minister and Independent Greeks (ANEL)  party leader Panos Kammenos said in Parliament.

He said that the opposition had chosen to manufacture a scandal that did not exist.

Kammenos submitted a series of documents that present Vassilis Papadopoulos as Saudi Arabia’s representative. As far as the government was concerned, he added, Papadopoulos represented Saudi Arabia and this had been explained in multiple ways. “I do not care who represents Saudi Arabia, I care about the law and I act strictly within the law,” said Kammenos.

Main opposition leader

In his speech earlier, ND’s leader Mitsotakis called the agreement “a first-class scandal” and criticized Tsipras for “covering up for Kammenos.”

Mitsotakis also criticized the government for “bringing back to the ministry of National Defence the use of middlemen, which had been abolished after the cases of former (National Defence Minister Akis) Tsochatzopoulos,” referring to the PASOK former minister who was jailed over bribery and money laundering.

Speaking of Kammenos, who is leader of the junior party in the ruling coalition (ANEL), the opposition leader said, “Your own government ally is proven to be selling shells and bombs to Arab countries with the help of middlemen. In any democratic country, the prime minister would have dismissed his minister. You didn’t – is he blackmailing you, with bringing the government down? How can you go to elections with 15 billion euros’ worth of measures and record taxes?”

Gennimata accusesTsipras of a cover-up on a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia

PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for trying to cover up a shady arms deal of the ministry of defense to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, during a fierce debate in parliament on Monday.

"It is a government lost among middle men and a prime minister who is trying to cover up a scandalous affair,? she told MPs and accused Defence Minister Panos Kammenos of trying to deceive parliament.

“Mr. Kammenos is attempting to deceive the House,” she said and turning to Tsipras she added: “Had Mr. Kammenos informed you or not? If yes, you are jointly responsible and you should be held accountable.”

Gennimata submitted to parliament three documents on the case, as well as an article of a law voted by PASOK in 2011 which forbids the use of intermediaries in agreements for the purchase and sale of military equipment.

“The documents I submitted prove that only through an intergovernmental agreement and not with Mr. [Vassilis] Papadopoulos as a middleman,” she said.

Gennimata also criticized Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias who she said threatened lawmakers with legal repercussions if they reveal the content of confidential documents in order to hide the role of the intermediary, Papadopoulos.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGES GREECE TO SCRAP SAUDI ARMS SALE

A leading global rights organization is urging Greece’s government to scrap a controversial arms sale to Saudi Arabia, saying the weapons could be used against civilians in the ongoing war in Yemen, the Associated Press reports.

Amnesty International voiced deep concern Monday over the proposed deal, saying there was a “real danger” that the artillery shells would be used by the Saudi-led military coalition fighting Shiite rebels in the impoverished country.

The agreement has been strongly criticized by Greek opposition parties, while at least two lawmakers in the governing left-wing Syriza party have called for its cancellation on grounds that the arms could be used in Yemen.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was expected to address the issue during a parliamentary debate later Monday.

Read more here.

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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Dimorsitanos   License: CC-BY-SA

Source: thenationalherald.com