Cyprus-Forum.com

[alexISS]

Pangalos came round to agreeing with the goal of Cyprus in the EU, a goal which Kranidiotes had been pushing for since the early 80s.

I searched for links confirming the above but couldn't find any, I would be thankful if you could provide some evidence. I'm not trying to dispute what you say, I'm genuinely interested in learning more on the subject. As far as I know, Kranidiotes was Pangalos' assistant for years before becoming deputy FM, and the whole idea of pushing for Cyprus' EU entry was attributed to both of them.

When the position was set, it was left to Kranidiotes to pursue almost single handedly.

Again, some confirmation on the above could be useful. Kranidiotes was part of a diplomatic team, how he could be assigned this task alone I do not understand

And finally we agree that the Cyprus government too needed some shoving in that direction.

I think it needed much more than some shoving. Giorgos Vassileiou was dead against such ideas, insisting on sticking to the standard UN "procedures" for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem and he thought that EU entry application would be a step backwards.

I do not understand why you have to discredit Greece, Kranidiotes was, after all, educated in a Greek university and spent his entire political career in Greece, not Cyprus. It's an undisputed fact, without Greece Cyprus would not and could not join the EU, ever

[DT.]

I'm at an airport and do not have much time to get into the details of this but I'll just start byb reminding the gentleman that 2 of the largest Greek banks are CY owned. Marfin Laik and Bank of Cyprus.

I believe that Laiki bank was bought by Marfin Group (Greece), not the other way around. Marfin Group also came close to buying Bank of Cyprus as well if I remember correctly. I also have doubts about Bank of Cyprus being one of the largest Greek banks

Check it out mate. Marfin reversed into Laiki. Marfin was a 2-bit investment bank 5 years ago and couldn't afford to buy a company credit card let alone a bank. Marfin used Laiki's assets under custody and without Laiki, Vgenopoulos would never have convinced Dubai to invest.

The bank is now under Cyprus.

[alexISS]

I'm at an airport and do not have much time to get into the details of this but I'll just start byb reminding the gentleman that 2 of the largest Greek banks are CY owned. Marfin Laik and Bank of Cyprus.

I believe that Laiki bank was bought by Marfin Group (Greece), not the other way around. Marfin Group also came close to buying Bank of Cyprus as well if I remember correctly. I also have doubts about Bank of Cyprus being one of the largest Greek banks

Check it out mate. Marfin reversed into Laiki. Marfin was a 2-bit investment bank 5 years ago and couldn't afford to buy a compa
ny credit card let alone a bank. Marfin used Laiki's assets under custody and without Laiki, Vgenopoulos would never have convinced Dubai to invest.

The bank is now under Cyprus.

In 2006 the Greek company Marfin Financial Group acquired the Cyprus Popular Bank (Laiki Bank), which it re-branded as Marfin Popular Bank[2].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfin_Popular_Bank

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... &archive=1

[DT.]

I'm at an airport and do not have much time to get into the details of this but I'll just start byb reminding the gentleman that 2 of the largest Greek banks are CY owned. Marfin Laik and Bank of Cyprus.

I believe that Laiki bank was bought by Marfin Group (Greece), not the other way around. Marfin Group also came close to buying Bank of Cyprus as well if I remember correctly. I also have doubts about Bank of Cyprus being one of the largest Greek banks

Check it out mate. Marfin reversed into Laiki. Marfin was a 2-bit investment bank 5 years ago and couldn't afford to buy a compa
ny credit card let alone a bank. Marfin used Laiki's assets under custody and without Laiki, Vgenopoulos would never have convinced Dubai to invest.

The bank is now under Cyprus.

In 2006 the Greek company Marfin Financial Group acquired the Cyprus Popular Bank (Laiki Bank), which it re-branded as Marfin Popular Bank[2].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfin_Popular_Bank

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... &archive=1

This investment strategy culminated in December 2006 in the establishment of Marfin Popular Bank as one of the largest retail banking groups in Greece and Cyprus, following the acquisition by Laiki Group S.A. of approximately 97% of the issued share capital of MIG and the subsequent assimilation of the banking assets of MIG,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfin_Investment_Group

Please note. You are mixing up your legal entitiesand investment vehicles.

Marfin Investment Group is owned 97% by Laiki Group SA.

[alexISS]

I'm at an airport and do not have much time to get into the details of this but I'll just start byb reminding the gentleman that 2 of the largest Greek banks are CY owned. Marfin Laik and Bank of Cyprus.

I believe that Laiki bank was bought by Marfin Group (Greece), not the other way around. Marfin Group also came close to buying Bank of Cyprus as well if I remember correctly. I also have doubts about Bank of Cyprus being one of the largest Greek banks

Check it out mate. Marfin reversed into Laiki. Marfin was a 2-bit investment bank 5 years ago and couldn't afford to buy a compa
ny credit card let alone a bank. Marfin used Laiki's assets under custody and without Laiki, Vgenopoulos would never have convinced Dubai to invest.

The bank is now under Cyprus.

In 2006 the Greek company Marfin Financial Group acquired the Cyprus Popular Bank (Laiki Bank), which it re-branded as Marfin Popular Bank[2].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfin_Popular_Bank

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... &archive=1

This investment strategy culminated in December 2006 in the establishment of Marfin Popular Bank as one of the largest retail banking groups in Greece and Cyprus, following the acquisition by Laiki Group S.A. of approximately 97% of the issued share capital of MIG and the subsequent assimilation of the banking assets of MIG,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marfin_Investment_Group

Please note. You are mixing up your legal entitiesand investment vehicles.

Marfin Investment Group is owned 97% by Laiki Group SA.

MIG first bought Laiki, and later (late 2006) Laiki Group (already in Greek hands) bought 97% of the issued share capital of MIG (not 97% of MIG), and assimilated the banking assets of MIG. In other words, it was nothing more than an "internal" transaction within the Marfin Group aiming to break-up the Banking sector from the rest of the Group