Greece: international law to determine reparations

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's foreign minister says international law will determine whether Germany still owes Greece money for forced World War II loans, the latest statement in a growing spat over war reparations.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said Thursday there was no relationship between the issue and Greece's international financial bailout. During negotiations for the bailout, Germany pressed Greece hard for unpopular austerity measures.

Avramopoulos spoke Thursday in response to German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who was quoted by media as suggesting Greece should focus on reforming its economy, and that the issue of war reparations was definitively closed years ago.

A special committee set up by the Greek government to look into the matter completed a report last month. Greece's legal council will review the documents before determining if any action should be taken.