EU relations make Greek bet a risky one

GREEK FOREIGN Minister Nikos Kotzias took his government's claim for World War II reparations directly to Germany on Tuesday, receiving a clear rebuke from Berlin. The country's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had already called for such reparations earlier. Comments:

Tsipras, in believing that the eurozone cannot afford to lose Greece, is actually placing a very dangerous bet given the fragile relations Greece has with some of Europe's most powerful countries. Should all members of the European Union realize that their expenses on getting Greece out of economic crisis outrun the original value that the country can offer, they might as well cut loose the financial "dead weight".

Tao Duanfang, a columnist based in Canada, Feb 11