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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A top Greek lawmaker has welcomed the German president's call for his country to consider World War II redress to Greece as a gesture "of historical significance."
In an interview with the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, Joachim Gauck said, "It's the right thing to do for a history-conscious country like ours to consider what possibilities there might be for redress."
Noting that Gauck's remarks became known Friday, the anniversary of a 1944 mass execution of Greek resistance fighters by German occupying forces, parliamentary Speaker Zoi Constantopoulou said Gauck's call was directly related to Greece's pressure for reparations.
Greece has said its treasury has estimated the German reparations owed from World War II at 278.7 billion euros ($312.1 billion).
Germany officially says the issue of reparations has been settled.
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