Controversy over gov't refusal to attend conference on communist crimes continues

The controversy surrounding the government's refusal to attend a conference last week in the Baltic state of Estonia about the crimes committed by communist regimes spilled over into Parliament Thursday with acrimonious exchanges between lawmakers which, at times, got personal.

Democratic Alignment lawmaker Andreas Loverdos reportedly called Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos a "punk" after the latter sought to defend the decision not to take part in the conference in Tallinn, describing critics as "anti-communists."

Loverdos said that, rather than boycotting events, governments have many ways at their disposal to express reservations. "You can, for instance, participate with a general secretary or an ambassador," he said. Katrougalos shot back, describing critics as representatives of the "extreme center," adding that many of them, including members...