Germany's "moral debt"

[Maik]

Germany offers fund to defuse Greek war reparation claims

German President Joachim Gauck dismissed Greek demands for compensation for Nazi-era crimes during a symbolic visit to Greece on Thursday, and instead offered to set up a new fund to remind Germans of their past.

Gauck acknowledged on Thursday that Germany carried a "moral debt" for dozens of massacres committed by Nazi soldiers in anti-guerrilla reprisals during the war, but reiterated that Berlin was not willing to discuss reparations.

"I believe the legal way for it is closed," he said during a joint appearance with 84-year-old Greek President Karolos Papoulias, a former wartime resistance member who said the two states should start talks on the issue "as soon as possible".

Gauck said Germany would instead set up a new "Future Fund" to foster the memory of Nazi war crimes in Greece.

"It will dispose substantial sums to make Germans confront that part of their past," he said without offering details on the fund's size or purpose.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/06/uk-greece-germany-war-idUKBREA2510120140306