International

Skopje’s compliance with the Greece-FYROM naming accord is the key to FYROM’s accession to the EU and Nato, according to the German Minister of State for Europe, Michael Roth.

On the one hand are the countries of the former Eastern bloc, where anti-migration, populist or even racist rhetoric prevails, and on the other hand are France, Germany, and the countries of the South, which are trying to shape a realistic policy to handle the migration issue.

European diplomats who said that Berlin has approached Greece, Italy and their neighbours in order to conclude bilateral agreements on migrants, in return for economic incentives

“The success of the four systemic banks in the stress tests, combined with the completion of the economic support [bailout] programme, contributed decisively to the improvement in the climate,” banking sources said.

It is a disgrace for the country, and for the supposedly responsible government, that six months after the deadly flooding tragedy of Mandra, the area is reliving the same nightmare, and nobody cares.

The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Konstantinos Michalos, has been expelled from main opposition New Democracy, which labeled him a Trojan Horse.

“Democracy has means to defend itself. These acts are not just condemnable. They can and should be averted with one basic means – the full, unreserved denunciation of all such acts, against whomever and whatever party,” Voutsis said.

Discussions with creditors will also focus on the transfers of civil servants, the meritocratic appointment of general secretaries at ministries, changes in the minimum wage, and expediting auctions of seized properties.

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias spoke of a buying off of consciences with the money of oligarchs and by people who have a tradition of apostasies.

The opportunistic amalgam that is the Independent Greeks party is on its last leg, with MPs and cadres looking out for their own political survival.

“There were two different lines – 25 countries wanted to start accession talks by the summer of 2019. On the other side you had Germany, The Netherlands, and Denmark, which sought a postponement,” Kotzias said after the Council meeting.

Lazaridis cited opposition to the Greece-FYROM naming agreement as the reason for leaving the party’s parliamentary group.

“I do not accept ideas or proposals that would endanger the Macedonian ethnic identity, the particularity of the Macedonian nation, and the Macedonian model of co-existence,” Ivanov declared.

“Greece can become a hub for scientific research, new technologies, start-up enterprises, and new cooperative endavours,” Tsipras said.

His absolute domination is naturally a great defeat for secular Turkey, for the minority, as it turned out, that wants a European democracy. The question for Greece and the wider region is how Erdogan will handle his absolute power from now on.

Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis also informed opposition parties of the government's intention to brief the legislature

The viability of Greece’s debt is being restored according to the European Commission’s basic scenario in its Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA).

“Although economic growth has returned and will likely accelerate further this year, Greece’s growth outlook is rather moderate at 2.0-2.5 percent per year at best, unless there is a large boost to investment,” the report said.

While Athens has set terms for agreeing to FYROM joining Nato and the EU after a yes vote in a planned referendum in Skopje and a constitutional revision there, it will be in a very tough spot if FYROM meets all its obligations and Greece does not.

Greece at this time needs an inspired leadership, which understands the contemporary world, believes in the activity of the private sector, and can absorb other countries’ experiences in achieving growth.