June 25, 2010
Government: rumor of Greek islands for sale not true
Wall Street Journal on Papandreou's response to erroneous reports that certain Aegean islands were being prepped for sale:
The UK Guardian newspaper accelerated the rumors by flatly stating what Papandreou's government denies:"The Greek government Friday flatly denied that the country is seeking to sell some of its islands to slash its budget deficit.
Earlier, U.K. daily The Guardian published an article saying Greece is making it easier for the rich and famous to fulfill their dreams by preparing to sell, or offering long-term leases on, some of its 6,000 sun-kissed islands, in an attempt to repay its mountainous debts.
"The Greek government has no involvement is any sale of land on Greek islands...these transactions occur between private parties which is nothing new," said government spokesman George Petalotis on in a statement.
"The notion that the Greek government is negotiating with Russians and Chinese investors to sell land on the island of Rhodes is also equally misleading," the government spokesman said. "
"Now Greece is making it easier for the rich and famous to fulfill their dreams by preparing to sell, or offering long-term leases on, some of its 6,000 sunkissed islands in a desperate attempt to repay its mountainous debts."
Related:
April 10, 2013: Onassis' Skorpios island sells for €117+ - UK Telgraph
"The Greek shipping magnate's granddaughter, 28-year-old Athina Onassis Roussel, has agreed to sell the island of Skorpios, a jewel in the Ionian Sea, according to Greek media.
The identity of the Russian businessman has not been disclosed.
The forested island, off the western coast of Greece, was bought by Aristotle Onassis in 1962 for just 3.5 million drachma, the equivalent of about £10,000."
Greece's Golden Visa program
