Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis was asked to comment on opposition criticism over developments concerning the Monastery of St Catherine at Sinai during a briefing for political correspondents:
“The agreement between the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St Catherine at Sinai and the Egyptian state will be published once it has been finalised. There is a paradox here, though. We are talking about a €1,500 outstanding matter that is being resolved. If the government alone supported the agreement, the opposition would have reason to be suspicious. But this is a development welcomed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Holy Synod of Greece and the Holy Synod of Cyprus. It is the very definition of pettiness and an opposition that opposes for opposition’s sake, which gets us nowhere. It is one of the reasons their poll ratings are where they are.”
On informing Turkey about work on the electricity interconnector cable, Mr Marinakis said:
“We need to distinguish between two different things: an application for a permit, submitted only by the Greek authorities, and a simple notification. The latter is standard practice for any such project and has no legal consequences. It will be carried out in accordance with the provisions governing such projects and the practice followed by contractors in comparable cases.”
On the objections raised by Kostas Karamanlis in his speech yesterday, the government spokesman said:
“The headlines and interpretations have no bearing on reality. We have the utmost respect for the former prime minister and listen very carefully to what he says and to his advice, particularly on matters of national importance. I also take note of the closing words of his speech, in which he called on everyone to show unity and solidarity. That is where I want to leave it.”
Asked about the two former prime ministers appearing alongside Vangelis Meimarakis at two events in the space of four days, he said: “These are different cases. The prime minister met Mr Meimarakis last week. Mr Karamanlis has never said anything against the prime minister or the party, whereas Mr Samaras was expelled from New Democracy — an unwelcome but unavoidable development.”
The government spokesman also addressed claims by some of a privileged relationship between the former EOK president, Mr Liolios, and the government: “The opposition’s tactics are well known, as are those of certain media outlets trying to play its game. The investigation began under this government. Only the courts know what they will decide.”
Asked about a photograph of the accused, Mr Mavraganis, at the Maximos Mansion published by the newspaper Documento, he said: “This is an irrelevant attempt to link a meeting — I don’t know whether one took place — with this particular gentleman in 2021. Even if we accept that a meeting with someone took place, dozens of people are received at the Maximos Mansion; citizens, businesspeople and workers come there too. Trying to hold us responsible for the meeting is an exercise in acrobatics we will not engage in. We are accountable to citizens for the choices we make as a government.”