Chrisochoidis: I did not read the memorandum

"I did not read the memorandum, because I had other obligations and duties. I had to deal with crime as minister of civil protection, and it was not my job to study the memorandum." This is what the minister of development and presidential candidate of PASOK Michael Chrysohoidis said on Tuesday morning.

He also said he agrees with Simitis’ speech in Berlin, adding that the memorandum was signed in a state of panic due to the possibility of payment suspension.

"The negotiation was very horizontal, and it was an optimistic and naïve estimation to expect that things will evolve in one way. But things do not always turn out the way you like them to. The successive measures led to more depression because they reduced liquidity."

As to the criticism against the president of PASOK, he said "I do not take back the statements about Papandreou, some are bothered by my way. It is not a matter of aesthetics, it has to do with the difficulties that people are going through."

He announced liquidity of 1 billion euros in March that will be given to companies by banks via the EIB. "We gave EIB 500 million from ESPA as a guarantee to give 1 billion in loans and guarantees to the Greek commercial banks in March for liquidity in the business."

He also announced a new program of 1.5 billion euros in June for the major road and waste works via SDIT that will create 10,000 new jobs.

The minister said he disagrees with the decrease of wage costs but agrees with the reduction of insurance contributions.

Concerning the reactions to the closure of the general secretariats of the Aegean and Macedonia-Thrace, he said on SKAI TV that he stands by his decision. "There is a decision in parliament to close down 10 agencies. For the g.s. of the Aegean and Macedonia not only will I insist, but will not again speak softly to the populists. 110 employees in the g.s. of Macedonia were doing nothing, so they will staff the new unit for investments in Northern Greece."