The Type 214 submarine scandal -with respect to its final stage- looks like it is taking on a whole new dimension, following the unearthing of the name Andrea Rossoni. The link between former Finance Minister George Papakostaninou and A.Rossoni is not only of a family nature (as we discovered via the Lagarde list since the latter is married to the former finance minister's relative) but according to a revealing article in defencenet there is much, much more than meets the eye here.
Mr. A.Rossonis, is the man who apparently helped to take the Hellenic navy forward and who belongs to a group that promoted the revision of the Neptune II defense contract. Rossoni is a defence systems dealer who supplied parts for the armament programs of the Hellenic Navy. (Note - a law by Evangelos Venizelos to supply two additional Type 214 was passed in September 2010 amending the Convention Neptune II contract).
Because of Rossini's lobbying, the Germans who were apparently obligated to pay hundreds of million of Euros in dues, received a further order for two more submarines via Rossini's pal Iskandar Safa.
In other words, Greece had signed the Memorandum, and all contracts of this nature should have logiically been frozen, or at least placed on the back burner, but the German ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Company begged Greek officials to accept two submarines so that the failed -and from what some describe scandalous- Neptune II program can close quickly. When this occurred G.Papakonstantinou approved an additional 500 million Euros which was then paid to the German company and to Iskandar Safa!
From what has been presented so far Papakostantinou signed the transfer of the Skaramanga Shipyards to his friend A.Rossonis and to I.Safa.
Recap- Rossonis is a relative (implicated on the controversial Lagarde List). Coincidence? Or is it? Apparently not because a separate report on defencenet months ago had clearly stated that Papakonstantinou sent a message to Evangelos The Large telling him that he might of approved the disbursement amount and the transfer of shipyards, but in all reality it was him (Evangelos) who made the request and signed the law that allowed Safa to become a richer man, and at the same time left the Hellenic Navy without any submarines.
Believe it or not folks, he could be telling the truth. We never thought we would say that here on HellasFrappe, because we personally do not like this man, but Papakostantinou is not lying.
Here is the story behind the story: KruppThyssen is a straight company as far as one can tell. On December 8th, 2011 – following numerous graft charges being thrown at Ferrostaal by judges throughout Germany– Der Spiegel reported that Krupp was pulling out of MFI, effective immediately. The publication observed "ThyssenKrupp’s planned withdrawal is believed to be linked to a corruption scandal involving Ferrostaal. The Munich public prosecutor’s office has accused Ferrostaal of paying millions of euros in bribes to Greece related to the purchase of 214-class submarines."
The man in charge of the Defense portfolio in Greece at the time, or from 2009-2011, was none other than Evangelos Venizelos. The very same man who authored the law to make all Greek Government ministers immune from corruption prosecutions. Read more by clicking here - http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/03/venizelos-overflowing-bank-account-and.html
So what is the moral of the story here? Well, Greek citizens have no clue as to how billions change hands and that is why they are often taken for a ride especially when it concerns defense system contracts. We are also powerless in how our leaders mishandle funds.
Seriously... in reading about this case in one of our previous posts we discovered that Greece was offered two free submarines for upgrading a contract, instead of modernizing another ongoing program but the government at the time opted to pay almost three quarters of a billion euros following the signatures of PASOK and LAOS!
(The cost of 209/1400 AIP was slightly lower, or about 70 million from the 214.)
The German "gifts", (which were necessary because the upgrade to the Neptune II program of 209/1200 with AIP had failed on the OCEAN S118). The upgrading on the OCEAN never occurred, and this is one of the reasons that they keep on postponing the delivery since September 2009. The cost until the present moment has been calculated at some 500 million euros. Read more by clicking here - http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/04/new-submarine-scandal-in-works-starring.html
So is it a coincidence that the mainstream media is only pointing at Papakostantinou for the mishandling of the Lagarde List... ?
Maybe not because we do not doubt his involvement, but we also think it was an opportunity to pin more things on him because some officials in PASOK do not have the dignity or manhood to take responsibility for their actions.
Venizelos is not a saint... we all know that. And aside from the ridiculous immunity law, one really has to question where he obtained all his wealth from. Back in November we featured a letter from Mr. Vaxevanis to Venizelos titled "“Politics without morality is the morality of tyrants”. If you want to read more about the links between Greek politicians (especially in PASOK) with some pretty shady companies then this would be a good place to start, we have given a plethora of information there. Also... you will get a rude awakening as to who Venizelos really is. Please click here to read the relevant article. - http://hellasfrappe.blogspot.com/2012/11/skaramagas-vaxevanis-points-to-pasok.html
Venizelos, Papakostantinou, it is all the same to us. Whatever way you serve it... it STINKS from a mile away.!
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