The losses incurred by depositors who suffered a haircut and holders of bank securities can be recouped within a decade at most, through annual installments, said DISY President Annita Dimitriou following a meeting at the party’s offices in Nicosia with the presidents of the Association of Bank Security Holders (SYKATA), Stavros Gialouridis, and the Association of Laiki Bank Depositors (SYKALA), Adonis Papakonstantinou.
During the meeting, the issue of legal fees required from affected parties for lawsuits that have been withdrawn was also raised. The DISY President stated that the party would submit the issue to the relevant Parliamentary Committee on Finance for discussion in the presence of the associations.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In remarks following the meeting, Ms. Dimitriou noted that DISY’s goal, as presented during the pre-election campaign, is simple and clear. “It is feasible to make up for the losses within a decade at most through annual installments. It is an injustice—and we must remember this—that has been inflicted on our country as a result of misguided economic policies, and this injustice must be rectified,” she said.
He noted at the same time that the Democratic Alarm “took the lead in creating the Solidarity Fund” and that “funds began to be set aside in a timely manner, whenever and wherever possible.” The DISY President noted, however, that a prerequisite for achieving this goal is “to have economic stability and growth policies that will increase government revenue.”
SYKATA President Stavros Gialouridis said he was “particularly optimistic,” citing the DISY President’s “clear and transparent” views. “Every year, in order to rectify this injustice committed against us, the state must implement a plan to make amends for this massive theft that took place at our expense in 2013,” said Mr. Gialouridis, welcoming the support of Ms. Dimitriou, who, he said, “will clearly demand this disbursement every year.”
SYKALA President Adonis Papakonstantinou described the discussion as “very productive and constructive,” noting that it was confirmed that DISY “will lend its support, as it has often done in the past, the effort being made to compensate all those who became the saviors of the state and the financial system in 2013.”
Mr. Papakonstantinou strongly raised the issue of the legal fees that association members are being asked to pay. As he explained, they appealed to DISY to help “rectify the injustice” resulting from the demands of the Legal Service and the Central Bank. “It is unacceptable that those who saved the state in 2013 are now being asked to pay—in addition to the haircut— legal fees—and to institutions that are not without blame for what happened in 2013,” stated the President of SYKALA.
When asked to clarify the issue, Mr. Papakonstantinou explained that this does not involve legal aid, but rather costs claimed by the Legal Service and the Central Bank as defendants in lawsuits that have been filed. As he noted, although most of the lawsuits have been withdrawn “at the court’s urging,” these two institutions are seeking reimbursement for the money they spent on attorneys “for decisions that were reached with their own participation in 2013.”
Commenting on this specific issue, Ms. Dimitriou pledged that DISY would refer the matter to the relevant House Finance Committee, “so that we can state our position and answers can be provided in the presence of the associations.”
Source: CNA
