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The new evidence filed by former chief SDOE Ioannis Diotis in the parliamentary preliminary committee raise relentles questions about the role of NIS (Hellenic National Intelligence Service), Yorgos Papandreou and Yorgos Papakonstantinou in the case of the Lagarde list.
More specifically, Diotis filed the electronic correspondence he had with Papakonstantinou few days before proceeding to copy the USB. Out of the messages exchanged between two men it seems the then Prime Minister George Papandreou and the former head of National Intelligence Kostas Bikas had full knowledge of the list and closely watched its "exploitation". Bikas had declared complete ignorance so far while the evidence to date showed that Papandreou was informed only at the arrival of the material from the French authorities. Also, that Papakonstantinou sent the USB to Diotis early July, at a time when he was Minister of Environment. This element makes some members of the committee say "upon leaving the Finance Ministry Papakonstantinou took the list with him."
All messages appear to be exchanged on 7.7.2011. Initially Diotis thanked the former Minister for an invitation to an event which he was unable to attend. From Papakonstantinou’s response it seems that the two men maintained good relations.
Among other things Papakonstantinou said:
Papakonstantinou: "Did you get the stick I sent you?
Diotis: "Yes I received it I haven’t found the time to identify its contents. I'm not exactly the best at these things! We already have had discussions (with Kostas) to move on in its investigation and further processing. Has it been processed at all?"
Papakonstantinou: "Which Kostas? Yes I had given it to Kapeleris to look on some 30 names. May I also remind you about the other issues that have gone to the prosecutor."
Diotis: "Bikas told me he spoke with the Prime Minister. I will see Kostas tomorrow."
Diotis: "I am also looking out for the other issue."
Papakonstantinou: "Yes we talked. I told him that you have the data. The other issue is taking a while and it makes me wonder…"
They say that two countries don't need to have secrets. Japan because no one talks, and Greece because everyone talks. Unfortunately for Mr. Papandreou the "corrupt", according to himself, country that he governed has this defect, the truth always gets out.
Meanwhile, the ad hoc Parliamentary preliminary investigation committee for the Lagarde list case decided to push for extra time to complete their inquiry, with MPs unanimously voting to ask Parliament to approve an April 15 deadline for its final report.
The committee had already asked for and received an extension until March 29 to wrap up its investigation and present its report but has not yet been able to examine all the witnesses agreed by the parties at the start. It was therefore judged necessary to seek another extension of the deadline.
AMNA, Axortagos
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