newsitems Papandreou to "EuroFora" on Sarkozy - Merkel's statements about the issue of Greece's Economy
Papandreou to "EuroFora" on Sarkozy - Merkel's statements about the issue of Greece's Economy
*Brussels/Angelo Marcopolo/- Prime Minister of Greece, Georges Papandreou, replying to "EuroFora"s questions on French President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel's statements on the Economic problems of the country, stressed that he intends to struggle against deep-rooted issues, and welcomed their trust that Greece could succeed, with EU's help, to find its own ways to overcome problems steming from a long Past.
"EuroFora"'s question to George Papandreou referred to the statements made by German Chancellor Merkel when we were in Bonn, (See "EuroFora" Newsreport :http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/merkelbonn.html), and now also by French President Sarkozy in our presence in Brussels, where they expressed their support to the first measures announced by the Prime Minister of Greece, and their trust in his promisses.
George Papandreou was asked by "EuroFora" to comment on the fact that important EU leaders of big EuroZone Countries, from another Political side than his, i.e. ChristianDemocrats du EPP, instead of Socialists, made such positive, in, principle, and supportive statements, , and whether he found that the crucial character of the issue pleaded in favor of a kind of national unity between all political tendencies in Greece who sincerely wished a better future for the country.
On this occasion, "EuroFora" also asked him if he found useful, or even necessary, a kind of "concertation", at European level, together with Eurropean organisations and relevant Countries.
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Earlier, Sarkozy, replying to a question during his final Press Conference at the conclusion of Brussels' EU Summit, observed, initially, that "it's true that Greece is in front of é major difficulty". So, "it's necessary that the Greek AUthorities prepare an Ambitious Strategy".
He found that "the Measures anounced by the Greek" PM, "are a step in the good direction", while "waiting to prepare soon, in close cooperation with the (EU) Commission, all measures needed for a sustainable restoration of the Budgetary Statistics'" , and that "the Prime Minister assured us of his Will and Intentions".
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The Prime Minister of Greece replied to 2 our of 3 "EuroFora"s questions, and even reacted affirmatively to an earlier critical observation by "EuroFora", but either ommitted or forgot to reply on another (3rd) of our points :
- "Leaders of other (EuroZone) Countries respect the will and the efforts of every Government, and of every People, to set a framework able to settle such problems. "EuroGroup" itself issued (earlier) a statement that the anounced measures are a step in the right direction, but that, of course, more is needed" We are trying to find Greek answers in a European context.
"A real problem would be if we didn't recognize the problems, and we would have diffiiculties to convince if we simply said that we shall continue almost as usual, if we didn't have our own, concrete proposals";
- "Our Credibility is linked to the fact that we want to tackle more Deep-rooted, more Crucial issues, and seek more Sustainable Solutions, which can advance much further on, for the amelioration of the Economy of Greece, and take more Radical measures than to simply cut today a Salary of Retirement benefits to some People : This wouldn't really help to make the Greek Economy sustainable, and wouldn't respond to the Monetay problems". In fact, there are also other problems in the Country, which are more important than that, and it's these, Harder and more Difficult problems, which play an Important role for the Future, that we must tackle". Such issues are, for me, a more Radical and more Deeply penetrating way to act, than to simply cut a salary or a retirement benefit", Papandreou's reply to "EuroFora" stressed.
Significantly, the Prime Minister of Greece referred also explicitly to the manifold negatve consequences which were provoked to the detriment of the Country's Economy by a recurrent phenomenon of "'Clientelism", favoritism and nepotism, "Corruption and Bureaucracy", which had also anti-democratic, anti-social and counter-productive repercussions for several Decades, that "EuroFora" had, precisely denounced in our relevant Publication issued just 1 Day before Georges Papandreou reacts, as above, to our questions in a well-attended Press Conference late after the conclusion of EU's Summit in Brussels. (See : )
Had he (or someone among his assistants) read "EuroFora"s criticism, precisely, of what he called himself the plague of "Clientelism" which had undermined EU and EuroZone member, contemporary Greece's potential ?
Regardless of that, Papandreou at least told ys that he "remembers" well the Interviews and Publications that "EuroFora"'s main founder used to make in the Past out of his previous Political Statements, as simple former Minister for European affairs, more than a ...Decade earlier in Strasbourg, particularly when Greece had chaired the CoE (+ 1998)..
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Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, speaking to "EuroFora", denied rumors on Turkey's attempts to avoid an EU check of its obligations on Cyprus on December 2009 by blackmailing Nicosia to either accept any deal with intransigeant Turkish claims contrary to EU values on the island's political issue, or face threats against the territorial integriy of the EU island, semi-occupied by Ankara's army.
On the contrary, the incoming EU President-in-office, speaking exclusively to "EuroFora", promissed that he will act for EU Council's decisions on December 2009 assessment of Turkey's commitments on Cyprus to be kept.
Bildt was asked to react to Cyprus' President Christofias' denunciation, earlier this week, that some want to exert "pressure" on Cyprus in order for Turkey to escape from its obligations.
Avoiding to mention any precise Deadline, Bildt, however, warned about "Consequences" in case of "failure" to reunite Cyprus, but without saying whose responsibility an eventual deadlock might be.
Asked by "EuroFora" if there is a risk for "Turkey's commitments to "be forgotten or downgraded", "despite crystal-clear EU Council decisions and EU Parliament's latest Resolution on the assessment to make at the end of this year on Turkey's obligations", according to rumours that, instead of pressing Turkey, on the contrary, there might be "pressure on Cyprus", even "blackmail", as Media reported and President Christofias denounced this week, Bildt denied :
- "No ! ", he clearly replied.
- On the contrary, invited by "EuroFora", to "reassure that the Swedish EU Presidency (7-12/2009) will keep a fair stance, based on principles", Bildt promised that "we (Swedish EU Presidency) will be very clear on all of the decisions taken by the (EU) Council".
He added, however, that "we have very numerous decisions that have been taken" by EU Council, as if he warned, also, on something else.
- "'I am not aware of any sort of statements coming out today''", Bildt started to say, on our reference to Cyprus' President Christofias" denunciation of Turkish lobby's manoeuvers this week, replying earlier to 'another"EuroFora"'s question during a Press Conference at EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
- '"I know the issues that you' are concerned with'", he added, remembering the statements he gave us when Sweden was chairing the PanEuropean CoE on 2008.
- "But, obviously, .. I think that Cyprus' Peace negotiations are extremenly important".
- And "'I think that we are at a unique moment in History, in the sens that both (Cyprus') President Christofias and Mr. Talat (the Turkish Cypriot leader), are personally convinced of the need to overcome the division".
- "It's 20 Years since the fall of Berlin Wal, but we still have a Capital in Europe (Nicosia) that's divided". ,
- 'I don't that we should loose any time in overcoming that"..
- ''We should be aware of the fact that success will bring great benefits, but failure, will also have major consequences. There will not be Status Quo' " It's a question of seeking a solution, or entering another situation, which is somewhat difficult to see exactly how that could evolve", he warned.
- "That being said, this is a negotiation for Cyprus itself", Bildt admitted.
- ''We (EU) can support, the (EU) Commission primarily, be technically helpful, and then, of course, there is a specific role for the UN, when it comes to the Cyprus' situation".
- "At least so far. It might not be for ever'. Certainly not for ever, but for this period of time", Bildt added, skiping now any reference to concrete threats on UNO's Peace keeping force in face of more than 40.000 Ankara's soldiers, contrary to some Press claims, (See previous NewsReports).
Replying to another "EuroFora"'s Question, if anyone might attempt to "impose a Deadline for the conclusion" of Cyprus' Talks on December 2009, Bildt avoided to speak of any precise Time-frame, and indirectly evoked the fact that 35 Years of Turkish Invasion/Occupation obviously durated too long :
'- "If I was from Cyprus, I would say that the Deadline was Yesterday ! '",
Bildt concluded.
Cyprus' Government Spokesman, Stephanou, reportedly pointed out that "a settlement is possible on December if Turkey changes its stance", accepting a solution for the reunification of the island based on UNO resolutiona and EU principles.
Earlier, EU Chair, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeld, highlighted an "historic opportunity" to "re-Unite" Cyprus according to EU's "basic Values"' (i.e. Human Rights) and 'Rules'", in a last-minute change of his draft speech to EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
The initial Draft spoke only about "healing" the island.
Significantly, Reinfeldt linked Cyprus' reunification with Turkey's obligations to respect EU's "Values" and "follow" EU's "common Rules" :
- What is "called Membership Negotiations" should lead, "at- the end of the day", into "sharing a set of common Basic Values (i.e. Human Rights, Democracy, etc), and following common Rules", stressed Reinfeld from the outset.
- "This is something that those on the Outside (of the EU), are now contemplating", up "to Ankara", for "a solution" on "Cyprus", observed the EU Chairman, immediately afterwards..
- "Both sides of Cyprus have been granted a historic opportunity to together reach an agreement on a solution to re-Unite the island, that has been divided for far too long", said Reinfeldt, modifying his draft text.
- "The Swedish Presidency will act ...in accordance with Commitments EU has made, on the basis of Criteria that apply", "as a Honest Broker", he promised.
- "To those on the inside (of the EU), allowing the membership process to become an opportunity to solve protracted disputes, can be tempting", he added.
"In such cases, we must find solutions that can benefit both sides, and open up a way forward. Otherwise, it would jeopardize the progress we have made towards EU integration", Reinfeldt said.