Thursday 23 February 2012

Greece should sell islands to Turkey in Gratitude for the Troika bail-out.



Christoph Leitle, President of the Austrian Economic Chamber, has stated in an interview in Profil Magazine that Greece should sell uninhabited islands to Turkey as a sign of thanks for the European bail-out of Greece.

In the interview, he states (my translation, original text follows):

Over the long term, I see a very important convergence between the EU – that is to say, Greece – and Turkey. With such a gesture [selling islands to Turkey], one could perhaps even solve the Cyprus conflict. The surrender of part of own sovereignty would be a sign of thanks for the help. [referring to the bail-out].

Langfristig sehe ich eine sehr wichtige Konvergenz zwischen der EU – also Griechenland – und der Türkei. Man könnte mit einer solchen Geste vielleicht sogar den Zypern-Konflikt lösen. Der Verzicht auf Teile der eigenen Souveränität wäre ein Zeichen der Dankbarkeit für die Hilfe.

It is difficult to exaggerate just how insulting this idea is. 


The entire interview also confirms one very unfortunate fact: that European solidarity is apparently little more than a myth. As Leitl states

With every new bail-out package, the anti-Greek feeling in all Europe increases. With this, we will have to deal with a demagogic-populist movement.

Mit jedem neuen Hilfspaket steigt die Anti-Griechenland-Stimmung in ganz Europa. Wir bekommen es da mit einer demagogisch-populistischen Bewegung zu tun.

George Papandreou’s decision to trust in this myth will certainly go down as one of the greatest strategic errors in Greek history. It remains to be seen whether he or any other members of the Greek political class will pay the price for it.


(c) Philip Ammerman, 2012 
Navigator Consulting Group 
www.navigator-consulting.com 

9 comments:

  1. I will add Austrian products onto my boycott list next to German and Dutch. What nerve. JCP

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    1. C'est incroyable! Et j'apprends par ailleurs que l’État grec ( a savoir ceux qui gouvernent SANS L’ASSENTIMENT POPULAIRE, et SANS AVOIR ÉTÉ ÉLUS) ONT CONCLU UN NOUVEAU CONTRAT AVEC ''Siemens'' - oui, celle de très mauvaise réputation, qui avait soudoyé des politiciens et hommes d'affaires grecs pour avoir des marchés totalement suspects - pour la continuation du Métro Athénien. Incroyable! LA DETTE C'EST LA DETTE, LA MISÈRE ET LA PAUVRETÉ GAGNENT TOUTE LA POPULATION GRECQUE NON PRIVILÉGIÉE (les 95%), ET LES MARCHÉS SONT LES MARCHÉS. Dans quel monde vivons nous.. Je suis indignée!!

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  2. Following the German media, it is no surprise that there is an "anti-Greek feeling". If the media over and over populate the idea how hardworking the Germans and how mischievous the Greeks are, the minds of most of those who actually do follow that nonsense have no other choice but to give in, eventually. Where are publications about the bailout? Where are the official documents stating how the money is to be used. Rumors have it that the military sectors is to be exempted from any cuts. Why? Because Germany and France and some others make weapons and want to sell them, just like the newest submarine that was sold to Israel with about EUR 160 million subsidy from the German taxpayer. How about Greece cuts the useless imports from its EU friends, spurring internal production and consumption.

    Aaron

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    1. Good point. Check this article in Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/23/us-eurozone-greece-warships-analysis-idUSTRE62M1Q520100323

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  3. What's wrong with selling islands? Genoa sold Corsica to France, for example. France sold Louisiana to the US: Russia sold Alaska to the US. Greece needs money, selling islands will the lower the deficit. It solves problems without causing new ones.

    http://morefreedomfries.blogspot.com/

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    1. Selling islands to Turkey is a non-starter. You may be aware of the fact that Turkey wants to change the maritime border between Greece and Turkey to allow it access to the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean. It maintains there are "grey zones" in the border - which is actually clearly marked since 1923. It sends armed overflights over Greek islands. It illegally enters the Athens Flight Information Region. It has been implicated in starting forest fires in Greece. In Cyprus, it is in military occupation of 38% of the island (according to UN resolutions). Etc. etc. This is why the Austrian proposal is so inflammatory.

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  4. I am always amazed about the word "solidarity" in this context. How can Greek governments expect people in the rest of Europe to pay more taxes and guarantee for ever-increasing amounts of Greek debt, when so many Greeks do not pay their taxes and rich Greeks (even members of parliament) hide large sums abroad?

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    1. I agree with you. "Solidarity" is always easier with other people's money. Although solidarity in this case also meant new loans to save foreign creditors, mostly German and French banks.

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  5. Egypt, Iran and Turkey have for centuries eyed Greece with what could be called salivating lust, and at various times have enjoyed ruling over the Greek population. Egypt invaded Greece as the latter fought for independence from the Turks in the 1820s, and attempted to annex Greece for itself. It would have succeeded had it not been for intervention from the European powers. However, Iran seems to be in the best position, as Greece is near 100% reliant on Iranian oil (no other country wishes to sell to the bankrupt Greeks), the majority of foreign investors and land purchasers in Greece are Iranians by far, and Greece finds itself locked in a military and strategic pact with Iran that originated over fears of Turkey. Any cutoff of investments or oil by the Iranians would doom Greece for sure. Look for Egypt and Turkey to launch their own counter-measures in the race to claim the juicy Greek prize. Against any of these three giants, Greece would be no match.

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