Invited to comment on his statements Mario Salmawho was deleted by the ND Committee, the government representative Pavlos Marinakis stated the following: “He makes an effort after the self-evident and unanimous decision to delete him to make himself a victim or a hero. Reality challenges these accusations. It was not only Mr. Salmas who did not vote for the bill he refers to. There was no party discipline. And some who are currently members of the government did not vote for it. About the red loans he asked a question along with other MPs which was answered immediately and the government applauded the question process. By trying to say that he was deleted for the question he asked, it is something that reality solemnly disputes.

Mr. Salmas was deleted because, contrary to the MPs of the ND, with what is happening in the faction and with what the operation of the KO of the ND foresees, he continued to reproduce slanderous formulations at the time when he had asked a relevant question on June 25, the minister replied to him on June 28 and when the process was completed it resumed. A few days later he also requested related documents which were served to him. For this case, all legal remedies provided by law have been applied and we have been rejected.

In ND we have learned if there is something that has a criminal dimension if we go to justice and not to take the channels and make accusations. This is not something related to the ND but to other parties. It is an attitude contrary to the functioning of the ND and raises reasonable questions. It is unfair to all MPs to associate a write-off with a bill or an issue like bad loans where we are proud of our policy results. We know we still have a lot to do. We are not undermining our policy.”

In question whether the deletion of Mr. Salma sends a message to other MPs as wellthe government representative stated that he does not think there is another ND MP who spreads slander on the channels and does not go to court if he thinks there is a basis. “It is individual behavior that is not connected to the behavior of another member of the ND,” he said, while when asked if he would intervene, the prosecutor replied that there is nothing specific to intervene. “For this case, all the competent bodies have been involved, they have evaluated the specific tender. Appeals were made. They were judged. The competition went ahead,” he noted.

Asked if Mr. Salmas he must surrender his headquartersMr. Marinakis stated that this is his decision and that it is a given that in these cases the right thing to do is hand over the seat.

Just in case meeting of the prime minister with ND MPsthe government representative stated that Kyriakos Mitsotakis has daily meetings with members of the ND’s KO because he is also the president of the party. He also mentioned that in view of the celebration of 50 years since the establishment of the ND there will be a climax of meetings.

Regarding an article in the newspaper Docoumento about a triangle of entanglement for the training of scientists, Pavlos Marinakis replied that everything provided by law was followed and there is also the political element, that is, if the training process had to proceed.

Called to comment on a court decision for him Giannos PapantoniouPavlos Marinakis replied that “it is unthinkable to comment on judicial decisions”.

For the publications about the return of Messrs. Gerapetritis and Papastavrou in Maximos, replied that there is no such thing and that “there is no change on the horizon either”.

Asked about tomorrow meeting of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Tayyip Erdogan and especially for the Cypriot issue where the Turkish President stated that he would request the recognition of the pseudo-state, Pavlos Marinakis replied that the Greek position, which is identical to the position of Cyprus, is not going to change. He noted that our mood is for discussion without “red lines” being negotiated. “We seek dialogue. We have results from the dialogue on very important issues. Dialogue does not mean that we agree on everything or the country is naive”, he underlined.

When asked if we are closer to entering deeper into the discussion on the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf, he answered that this is our only difference and for it to be discussed both parties must agree on what the agenda is.

“We will never agree to anything else. Whether we are closer or not is evaluated from each meeting separately. There is a long way to go to get to this point. We will emphasize the positive agenda. Greece does not intend to discuss sovereignty issues. At the diplomatic level, the moves that are being made are aimed at making Greece stronger and stronger,” he added.

When asked if the government still wants the Tempi trial to start as soon as possible, he answered positively, noting that it is self-evident that this is what we all want, and noted that the government does not decide on court dates.