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German magazine Focus published an extremely provocative article against Greece. On its first page the magazine published a collage of the statue of Aphrodite de Milo showing a middle finger and the article’s headline says "Deceivers in the European family." 

In an attempt to destroy the already shattered prestige of the country, but in a very indecent way with no respect for history, the weekly magazine expressed its view that "the Greek taxpayers deprive us of our money." The website, where the almost racist article is uploaded, also presents a video which shows an elderly Germans couple who declare how restless they are because of fraudsters from the southern countries who are taking the money of honest German taxpayers. 

Indignation by Greek politicians and the public is completely understandable, write in their comment the Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini, but the choice to respond with insults is not the most correct as well. On the contrary - there is a risk of crisis in the relations of Greece with key partners at a time when Greece is in need of support. 

The beginning was put by the chairman of the parliament Filipos Petsalnikos, who decided to complain to the German ambassador in Athens, with whom he wished to have a meeting today. At the meeting, Mr. Petsalnikos will express the strong indignation of the Greek deputies and he will recall that Germany was financed by the EU for its infrastructure and economy after the fall of the Berlin wall, in order to integrate the eastern part. Mr. Petsalnikos also sent a letter to the magazine, in which he notes that Greece is a major customer of German arms manufacturers. Since the article talks about the high salaries of the Greeks, the parliament chairman compared the salary of a German teacher who after 30 years of service receives €4 400, respectively, while a Greek teacher gets €2 200. 

Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis addressed personally Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel: "You owe us Kalavrita, you owe us Distomo, you owe us 70 billion from the ruins you have forsaken us." The leader of the right party LAOS George Karadzaferis said that as a response to the publication he has prepared a letter accompanied by tourist maps of Greece with satire, which can give ideas for other covers in the future. 

PASOK's parliamentary representative Petros Evtimiou noted that "instead of Germany showing the finger of Aphrodite de Milo, it must realize that it is sitting on it."