Greece should sell islands to keep bankruptcy at bay, say German MPs

**TTL** · 04 Mar 10,, 10:56

Greece must consider a firesale of land, historic buildings and artworks to cut its debts, two right-wing German politicians said today in a newspaper interview that is bound to exacerbate tensions between Athens and Berlin.

Alongside austerity measures such as cuts to public sector pay and a freeze on state pensions, why not sell a few uninhabited islands or ancient artefacts, asked Josef Schlarmann, a senior member of Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, and Frank Schaeffler, a finance policy expert in the Free Democrats.

The Acropolis and the Parthenon could also fall under the hammer along with temptingly idyllic Aegean islands still under state ownership in a rush to keep bankruptcy at bay.

"Those in insolvency have to sell everything they have to pay their creditors," Schlarmann told Bild newspaper. "Greece owns buildings, companies and uninhabited islands, which could all be used for debt redemption."

Greece should sell islands to keep bankruptcy at bay, say German MPs | Business | guardian.co.uk

That is absurd. If the Islands were of any economic value they wouldn't be uninhabited.

**Tarek Morgen** · 04 Mar 10,, 11:12

Josef Schlarmann is and was never a member of the German Parlament. The highest position he was ever elected to was a regional council in Hamburg.

Frank Schäffler is a member of the Bundestag, but pretty much what is called a Hinterbänkler (Backbencher).

Oh and an Island does not have to be inhabited to be worth something, as they come with fishing & mining rights. Actually there are quite a few uninhabited Islands in the world claimed by different Nations for the ressources they would give access to.

So this is pretty much nothing else as an attemp by some rather unimportant politicans to get a bit newstime.

**Rastagir** · 04 Mar 10,, 12:51

Uninhabited islands do have their value, as Tarek Morgen said. I remind you TTL that Greece and Turkey almost went to war back in 1995 over a couple of rocks.

I agree with Tarek Morgen. Greece is already enforcing some pretty hard measures. I don't see how statements like the ones from Frank Schäffler help the situation or doing something productive.

**Tarek Morgen** · 04 Mar 10,, 12:56

Greece is already enforcing some pretty hard measures

well..its trying to. It's past record for cost cutting does one not really make one optimistic in the ability of the govermnent to overcome puplic opposition.

**TTL** · 04 Mar 10,, 17:56

Greece and Turkey almost went to war back in 1995 over a couple of rocks.

Rasta that was over sovereignty of the said rocks, which has great importance in the aegean sea. What I tried to mean was selling of land and property to foreigners.

well..its trying to. It's past record for cost cutting does one not really make one optimistic in the ability of the govermnent to overcome puplic opposition.

That is the beauty of democracy + inadequtely educated populations.

**Rastagir** · 04 Mar 10,, 18:26

Originally Posted by TTL

Rasta that was over sovereignty of the said rocks, which has great importance in the aegean sea. What I tried to mean was selling of land and property to foreigners.

Exactly. But I believe that you agree it's a different thing for someone to own a property on an island and owning the entire island. And, somehow, I don't think that the guy meant property....

Originally Posted by TTL

That is the beauty of democracy + inadequtely educated populations.

Actually, it's the beauty of having lousy politicians. It's not the Greeks, as a whole, who ate with knife and fork...

**Freeloader** · 14 Mar 10,, 07:23

Originally Posted by Rastagir

Uninhabited islands do have their value, as Tarek Morgen said. I remind you TTL that Greece and Turkey almost went to war back in 1995 over a couple of rocks.

lol

I didn't realize Greece was such a warzone and in such utter financial ruin till recently. They're on par with most of Central America I was told. Surprising to say the least, to me anyways.

What caused it specifically or has this been the state of things in Greece for decades now?