Parliament completes first stage of Constitutional Review
16.2.2019
Parliament on Thursday voted to revise several articles in the Constitution, following the Government-initiated Constitutional Review. Any changes must be re-confirmed by Parliament after the next General Election, which is scheduled by October.
MPs agreed to amendments removing safeguards protecting Ministers and MPs from criminal prosecution, which have proved a major stumbling block in pursuing several high-profile corruption cases dating back to the early 2000s.Under the current Constitutional regulations, Ministers cannot be prosecuted if two parliamentary terms have elapsed since the alleged crime was committed.
MPs also selected Articles which include the introduction of a civic political oath for state officials, and the re-definition of the Greek state as "religion-neutral".
The first stage in the process of Constitutional Review is for Parliament to vote in principle on the Articles of the Constitution to be considered for amendment. Specific changes to those articles are still under debate and another vote is to be held next month.
Some Details…
The SYRIZA Government’s proposals were voted through Parliament on Thursday by either the absolute majority of all MPs (151 Ed) or by the “enhanced majority” of more than 180 MPs.
Those proposals voted through by an absolute majority of all MPs included:
Article 3- to secure the “religious neutrality” of the State.
Articles 13, 33 and 59- to secure the civic political oath for state officials.
Article 21- to secure social rights and social goods - a State guarantee of a decent standard of living for all through universal social services and income support. Included is the recognition of a social right to health and the obligation of the state to provide universal access to effective health benefits through the National Health System. Clauses guarantee public control of essential social goods such as water and electricity to ensure that their distribution networks are subject to public service status and that they are subject to public control.
Article 22 - to secure labour and collective freedoms. Clauses include the recognition of equal pay and equal value irrespective of age; the constitutional safeguarding of collective bargaining for the determination of minimum wages and the right of unilateral appeal by the social partners to arbitration. Additionally, the recruitment of services is prohibited as a measure to deal with the consequences of a strike. Included is the recognition of the right to social security in the sense that the State is obliged to provide effective protection against all insurance risks through a single universal coverage scheme, within the framework of a public redistributive system operating on the basis of the principles of solidarity and reciprocity.
Article 28 concerns the obligation to ratify by a referendum all international treaties providing for the transfer of sovereign powers of the State.
Article 37 seeks to establish the compulsory parliamentary status of the Prime Minister.
Article 84 introducing a constructive vote of NO-Confidence.
Article 44 introducing a people’s legislative initiative and of referenda [called] by popular initiative.
Article 54 introducing a system of proportional representation for MPs to represent Greeks living abroad.
Article 56 about establishing a block to MPs’re-election after three terms of office.
Article 102 about establishing a system of proportional representation and of institutions of direct democracy in local government. A Clause includes the recognition of the right of foreigners with permanent residence in the country to vote.
SYRIZA's proposal to decouple the election of the President of the Republic from the automatic dissolution of Parliament (Article 32), does not go to a second vote because it received only 148 Yes votes, 120 No votes with 3 Abstentions.
During the vote, the Communist Party of Greece reserved its position on all the amendments, while Golden Dawn voted against everything without exception.
In general, Potami supported SYRIZA's proposals concerning individual rights and ANEL supported proposals linked to the strengthening of direct democratic institutions. The Centre Union supported the proposals for strengthening the welfare state.
The procedure will continue after one month, when the second vote will be held in a plenary session of Parliament on the provisions that have commanded the support of the absolute majority of all MPs in this first vote.
In a month from today [Thursday 14.2.2019 Ed], the 2nd vote on the revised provisions will take place.
At the second vote, proposed Amendments to the Constitution must garner at least 151 votes to be classified as revisable.
MPs agreed to amendments removing safeguards protecting Ministers and MPs from criminal prosecution, which have proved a major stumbling block in pursuing several high-profile corruption cases dating back to the early 2000s.Under the current Constitutional regulations, Ministers cannot be prosecuted if two parliamentary terms have elapsed since the alleged crime was committed.
MPs also selected Articles which include the introduction of a civic political oath for state officials, and the re-definition of the Greek state as "religion-neutral".
The first stage in the process of Constitutional Review is for Parliament to vote in principle on the Articles of the Constitution to be considered for amendment. Specific changes to those articles are still under debate and another vote is to be held next month.
Some Details…
The SYRIZA Government’s proposals were voted through Parliament on Thursday by either the absolute majority of all MPs (151 Ed) or by the “enhanced majority” of more than 180 MPs.
Those proposals voted through by an absolute majority of all MPs included:
Article 3- to secure the “religious neutrality” of the State.
Articles 13, 33 and 59- to secure the civic political oath for state officials.
Article 21- to secure social rights and social goods - a State guarantee of a decent standard of living for all through universal social services and income support. Included is the recognition of a social right to health and the obligation of the state to provide universal access to effective health benefits through the National Health System. Clauses guarantee public control of essential social goods such as water and electricity to ensure that their distribution networks are subject to public service status and that they are subject to public control.
Article 22 - to secure labour and collective freedoms. Clauses include the recognition of equal pay and equal value irrespective of age; the constitutional safeguarding of collective bargaining for the determination of minimum wages and the right of unilateral appeal by the social partners to arbitration. Additionally, the recruitment of services is prohibited as a measure to deal with the consequences of a strike. Included is the recognition of the right to social security in the sense that the State is obliged to provide effective protection against all insurance risks through a single universal coverage scheme, within the framework of a public redistributive system operating on the basis of the principles of solidarity and reciprocity.
Article 28 concerns the obligation to ratify by a referendum all international treaties providing for the transfer of sovereign powers of the State.
Article 37 seeks to establish the compulsory parliamentary status of the Prime Minister.
Article 84 introducing a constructive vote of NO-Confidence.
Article 44 introducing a people’s legislative initiative and of referenda [called] by popular initiative.
Article 54 introducing a system of proportional representation for MPs to represent Greeks living abroad.
Article 56 about establishing a block to MPs’re-election after three terms of office.
Article 102 about establishing a system of proportional representation and of institutions of direct democracy in local government. A Clause includes the recognition of the right of foreigners with permanent residence in the country to vote.
SYRIZA's proposal to decouple the election of the President of the Republic from the automatic dissolution of Parliament (Article 32), does not go to a second vote because it received only 148 Yes votes, 120 No votes with 3 Abstentions.
During the vote, the Communist Party of Greece reserved its position on all the amendments, while Golden Dawn voted against everything without exception.
In general, Potami supported SYRIZA's proposals concerning individual rights and ANEL supported proposals linked to the strengthening of direct democratic institutions. The Centre Union supported the proposals for strengthening the welfare state.
The procedure will continue after one month, when the second vote will be held in a plenary session of Parliament on the provisions that have commanded the support of the absolute majority of all MPs in this first vote.
In a month from today [Thursday 14.2.2019 Ed], the 2nd vote on the revised provisions will take place.
At the second vote, proposed Amendments to the Constitution must garner at least 151 votes to be classified as revisable.
An "extremely creative and constructive" conversation
On Tuesday, the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Kostas Gavroglou, met with the Dialogue Committee of the Permanent Holy Synod of the Church of Greece as part of the ongoing dialogue on establishing an agreement between the State and the Church. At the heart of the meeting was the draft agreement proposed by the Ministry.
After the meeting, Minister Gavroglou described the conversation with the representatives of the Hierarchy as "extremely creative and constructive", and noted that the plan "strengthens the rationalization of State-Church relations, safeguards the clergy and proposes a tidying up of economic matters." "Many important things have been clarified and so we have gone a step further," he said.
On behalf of the Dialogue Committee of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Nafpaktos Ierotheos described the discussion with the representatives of the State as "sincere" and noted that the Committee would meet in the next few days to put down their proposals on the plan. However, he declined to comment on the plan, since, as he said, the Holy Synod would make the final decisions.
Next Tuesday, there will be a further meeting between representatives of Church and State to discuss the proposals and observations of the Church on the final shape of the plan.
A plan for the implementation of the State-Church Agreement was given to the Dialogue Committee.
According to the Ministry's press release, this plan definitively removes all the causes for concern which had been expressed either through lack of information or through misunderstanding following the joint announcement by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos of the draft State Agreement - Church on 6th November 2018. The plan identifies the important reasons why this historic important agreement will be mutually beneficial to both parties as well as to the parish priests.
Specifically, the plan is in three parts. In the first part, the text of the State-Church Agreement will be ratified in its final form after the conclusion of the dialogue. The other two parts will contain provisions for the implementation of the Agreement in its two main strands: The payroll of clergy and lay employees of the Church of Greece and the establishment and operation of a Fund for the Exploitation of Ecclesiastical Property.
According to the Ministry, with regard to the payroll of the clergy, the proposed legislation not only does not affect the current regime but, on the contrary, it substantially improves it, since the legal status and rights (such as payments, salaries, national insurance, pensions, etc.) of the clergy are for the first time secured by the institutional guarantees provided by the ratification of a bilateral agreement.
Under the Agreement and the proposed legislation :
Finally, with the Fund for the Exploitation of Ecclesiastical Property, significant economic benefits arise, both for the State and for the Church of Greece, from the exploitation of property whose ownership is disputed and thus is to date inactive and idle.
On Wednesday, the Minister met with a delegation from the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate on the same issue. Clerics in the Dodecanese islands and Crete fall under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate.
Elder Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes Islands, spokesman for the Patriarchate, objected to proposed changes to Article 3 of the Constitution that would abolish the reference to the dogma of the Holy Trinity in the preamble and the reference to a “prevalent religion.”
The Patriarchate also objected to a revision that would refer to a “religiously neutral” state, the metropolitan said. He also rejected proposed changes to the payment status of the clergy.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Kostas Gavroglou, met with the Dialogue Committee of the Permanent Holy Synod of the Church of Greece as part of the ongoing dialogue on establishing an agreement between the State and the Church. At the heart of the meeting was the draft agreement proposed by the Ministry.
After the meeting, Minister Gavroglou described the conversation with the representatives of the Hierarchy as "extremely creative and constructive", and noted that the plan "strengthens the rationalization of State-Church relations, safeguards the clergy and proposes a tidying up of economic matters." "Many important things have been clarified and so we have gone a step further," he said.
On behalf of the Dialogue Committee of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Nafpaktos Ierotheos described the discussion with the representatives of the State as "sincere" and noted that the Committee would meet in the next few days to put down their proposals on the plan. However, he declined to comment on the plan, since, as he said, the Holy Synod would make the final decisions.
Next Tuesday, there will be a further meeting between representatives of Church and State to discuss the proposals and observations of the Church on the final shape of the plan.
A plan for the implementation of the State-Church Agreement was given to the Dialogue Committee.
According to the Ministry's press release, this plan definitively removes all the causes for concern which had been expressed either through lack of information or through misunderstanding following the joint announcement by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos of the draft State Agreement - Church on 6th November 2018. The plan identifies the important reasons why this historic important agreement will be mutually beneficial to both parties as well as to the parish priests.
Specifically, the plan is in three parts. In the first part, the text of the State-Church Agreement will be ratified in its final form after the conclusion of the dialogue. The other two parts will contain provisions for the implementation of the Agreement in its two main strands: The payroll of clergy and lay employees of the Church of Greece and the establishment and operation of a Fund for the Exploitation of Ecclesiastical Property.
According to the Ministry, with regard to the payroll of the clergy, the proposed legislation not only does not affect the current regime but, on the contrary, it substantially improves it, since the legal status and rights (such as payments, salaries, national insurance, pensions, etc.) of the clergy are for the first time secured by the institutional guarantees provided by the ratification of a bilateral agreement.
Under the Agreement and the proposed legislation :
- The current service regime and permanence [of employment Ed] of clergymen as religious officials and civil servants remain unchanged and are not affected.
- The salary levels of clergy, which are still determined by the uniform wage bill, will continue to follow the salary increases of civil servants ie they remain unchanged and are not affected.
- The manner and timing of the payment of the clergy’s salaries, which will continue to be done by the Single Payment Authority, remain unchanged and are not affected.
- A Payroll Fund of the Church of Greece is to be set up, which will be funded annually by the state with the payroll cost of today’s number of salaried clergy, in recognition of an obligation resulting from the legal ratification of the Agreement. The amounts concerned are, under the strict control of the Court of Auditors, ring-fenced for the payroll of the clergy, and will be operated through the Single Paying Authority.
- As has already been legislated, a Register is to be drawn up of Clergymen and Lay Employees of the Church of Greece, recording the total of those paid from the resources of the Payroll Fund.
- Most important is that, for the first time, all the above are guaranteed in such a way that does not allow their unilateral reversal by the State. With the existing arrangements, both the payroll, the official status quo and the rights of the clergy are in a precarious position, in so far as they have been granted by common law, that is to say, they depend on the unilateral will of the State and, at any moment, can be altered in the most unfavourable way with a more recent law.
Finally, with the Fund for the Exploitation of Ecclesiastical Property, significant economic benefits arise, both for the State and for the Church of Greece, from the exploitation of property whose ownership is disputed and thus is to date inactive and idle.
On Wednesday, the Minister met with a delegation from the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate on the same issue. Clerics in the Dodecanese islands and Crete fall under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate.
Elder Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes Islands, spokesman for the Patriarchate, objected to proposed changes to Article 3 of the Constitution that would abolish the reference to the dogma of the Holy Trinity in the preamble and the reference to a “prevalent religion.”
The Patriarchate also objected to a revision that would refer to a “religiously neutral” state, the metropolitan said. He also rejected proposed changes to the payment status of the clergy.
“The Republic of Northern Macedonia” – it’s official
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia officially changed its name on Tuesday.
A government press release said the country now is officially named the Republic of North Macedonia. A series of practical adjustments – ranging from new road signs to updated passports and currency – will be made gradually, and started with the government website late Tuesday.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said his country would press ahead with all the changes needed to fulfill its end of the historic deal he reached with PM Tsipras last year. “At the end of the day we must show that we are implementing our part of the obligations,” he said. “I believe that all institutions are ready to act.”
With the exchange of a note verbale, [a diplomatic memorandum Ed] with Nikola Dimitrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Northern Macedonia, Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos announced that the Prespa Agreement has come into force: "Let this be the beginning of a long friendship between Greece and Northern Macedonia… a new era of stability and peace begins in the region, an era of friendship and cooperation with Northern Macedonia."
Nikola Dimitrov responded : "We have just exchanged the final note verbale: the Prespa Agreement comes into force! May today be the beginning of a long friendship between Greece and North Macedonia. We cannot change our past, but we can and we will shape our future of friendship, partnership and cooperation."
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia officially changed its name on Tuesday.
A government press release said the country now is officially named the Republic of North Macedonia. A series of practical adjustments – ranging from new road signs to updated passports and currency – will be made gradually, and started with the government website late Tuesday.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said his country would press ahead with all the changes needed to fulfill its end of the historic deal he reached with PM Tsipras last year. “At the end of the day we must show that we are implementing our part of the obligations,” he said. “I believe that all institutions are ready to act.”
With the exchange of a note verbale, [a diplomatic memorandum Ed] with Nikola Dimitrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Northern Macedonia, Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgos Katrougalos announced that the Prespa Agreement has come into force: "Let this be the beginning of a long friendship between Greece and Northern Macedonia… a new era of stability and peace begins in the region, an era of friendship and cooperation with Northern Macedonia."
Nikola Dimitrov responded : "We have just exchanged the final note verbale: the Prespa Agreement comes into force! May today be the beginning of a long friendship between Greece and North Macedonia. We cannot change our past, but we can and we will shape our future of friendship, partnership and cooperation."
“We are creating the conditions to build a climate of security, peace and cooperation in the Aegean”
9.02.2019
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara, lasted more than two hours.
Afterwards, at the joint press conference, PM Alexis Tsipras made this statement:
“Thank you very much, Mr President. I would like to thank you for your welcome and hospitality. And, of course, to thank you, once again, for the sincere talks we have had.
As I had the opportunity to emphasize in the media in the past, who asked me to express a view of my visit, our dialogue over the years has been a sincere, important dialogue not only for the future of our peoples but also for the our wider region, I would say.
The two countries have been able to work closely together in 2015 and 2016 - a critical period. Above all, because it was the period when an unprecedented refugee and migratory crisis broke out. It was then that we managed, for the first time, to cooperate, not only on issues of so-called low politics, but also to address this major international issue. The refugee-immigration crisis.
In this context, we have been able to build a new Euro-Turkish strategy of cooperation. We were able to bring forward, at the same time, the positive agenda of Greek-Turkish relations - our economic and energy cooperation. We were able to conduct rounds of exploratory talks and promote dialogue between our military to reduce tension in the Aegean.
And at the same time, we managed to promote the talks on the Cyprus problem. Talks that have come close to a solution, opening up difficult issues such as security.
Unfortunately, however, there followed the terrible coup here in Turkey and developments that have slowed down this positive course. You will remember that I was one of the first to call you that night to express to you the support of Greece, a country that defends democracy and freedom. And therefore, a country that condemns all forms of coups and, of course, any attempt to abolish democratic legitimacy.
Later, however, it is a fact that there have been developments that have created obstacles and impediments to this positive course of Greek-Turkish relations. There has been rhetoric, many times, controversial. In the Aegean, we have unfortunately seen the number of violations of Greece's national airspace reaching very high levels, with very dangerous incidents on the sea and in the air. And, at the same time, the case of the eight military men [granted asylum in Greece having fled Turkey following the failed coup Ed] you mentioned was a thorn in our relations, and then another thorn, the case of the two Greek soldiers who were detained in Turkey.
Under these circumstances, we could have accepted that this vicious circle is our destiny. Our kismet. We did not. And I'm glad we did not.
Today in our talks, I believe that it was once again clear that neither you nor I accept the logic of inaction and going along with the well-trodden path. Because we recognize that the challenges we face in our times and in our region do not allow us to remain locked in dead ends but to pursue and seek dialogue in order to find a peaceful way to resolve any disputes.
At the same time, in cross-border contacts, in the economy, in tourism, in culture, our peoples, as they live in the same place, are coming closer and closer. And I believe we owe it to our peoples to follow them.
In this context, we are obliged to reverse the logic of the past in order to build a relationship based on mutual respect. A relationship based on respect for International Law, the elimination of the threat of war and, of course, mutual understanding. A mutual understanding of our concerns.
In December 2017, as you said, for the first time, you visited Greece. For the first time, after 65 years, as a Turkish President you visited our country. For the first time after 65 years, we had an official visit by a Turkish President to Greece.
Many people, after our meeting, said that it was not a successful meeting, because we spoke honestly. I said that precisely because we spoke honestly, this meeting, this visit, was successful. Because, precisely, when there are difficulties, we have to talk about it. The channel of communication and dialogue must be open to overcome any differences.
Of course, I too have a small record because, in the four years that I have been Prime Minister, I have visited Turkey four times as Prime Minister. We have met so many other times in international forums. And, of course, in this positive spirit today we have agreed to move forward in the coming period with the main goal of de-escalating tension in the Aegean and promoting confidence-building measures.
And I believe that the talks that will follow our meeting between our Ministers of National Defence and between our Foreign Ministries can really contribute to this.
By creating these conditions, we can, I believe, then make progress and repeat the exploratory talks on the differences we have on the issue of the continental shelf in the Aegean.
We have, of course, discussed the Cyprus question. I stressed the need for a just and viable solution, in the context of UN resolutions, for the benefit of all Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, which will establish a reunited federal Cyprus, a normal country in the region and a normal country of the European Union. And, of course, I believe we are duty bound to make this new effort to avoid mistakes of the past. That is why I have put forward the view that we must agree on preparatory meetings on the crucial issue of security involving Greece and Turkey.
I also stressed the importance of respecting international law in the Eastern Mediterranean and, of course, the need for energy to be a bridge of cooperation, not an obstacle and not a conflict in the region. And, already, on some major energy projects, we are working together, as in the TAP pipeline. We would like to have wider cooperation, on the Turkish Stream, for instance.
Of course, wanting to restore the positive agenda to our talks, we have been talking about the economy, about our economic relations, the steps we must take to change the lives of our citizens in the region for the better.
We agreed that we must work to make the coastal connection between Smyrna and Thessaloniki a reality in the summer. And we agreed to move on to organizing a new business forum that will highlight the opportunities opened for co-operation, especially now that Greece has emerged from a crisis that has plagued it all these past years.
We have, of course, discussed the Refugee Question, our cooperation in the context of the EU-Turkey Declaration and the possibilities for reducing flows, the need for an increase in the numbers of returners and the dealing with the networks of traffickers.
We also agreed on the need to work closely on Euro-Turkish relations, highlighting Turkey's need for support, as it hosts more than 4 million refugees and migrants.
And we discussed the prospect of a revision of the European Union-Turkey Customs Union, for the benefit of, amongst others, all countries in the region.
And of course, I once again had the opportunity to emphasize Greece's continued support for Turkey's accession [to the EU Ed] perspective. Something that will be to both Turkey's benefit and Europe's benefit. And, of course, this course, the accession path can contribute to the return to the important democratic reforms that had taken place over the years and that, of course, must be strengthened.
With regard to the thorny case of the eight soldiers, where the Greek Judiciary has taken a clear decision, I would like to say once again that Greece, as a state subject to the rule of law, must respect the judgments of the Judiciary. In Greece, of course, the putchists are not welcome.
However, what is at stake today is for us to strengthen our cooperation in the field of security in order to deal effectively with the networks of traffickers operating in the Aegean Sea and in Evros, but also to deal with every criminal organization, every suspect, who wants to create problems for the good neighborhood and for the good cooperation between the two countries. So, we have agreed to step up cooperation in the field of security between the respective Ministries.
I would therefore like to conclude, once again, by thanking President Erdogan for the invitation to visit Ankara and tomorrow to come to Constantinople where I will also have the opportunity to visit Halki to meet the Patriarch.
I believe that there is a very significant opportunity in the coming years to invest in the positive agenda of relations between the two countries. The period we are in is a special time. Greece emerging from a multi-year crisis into the [financial Ed] markets, emerging into the economic clearing, has great potential. We are also solving decades-old problems, such as our differences with our northern neighbour, North Macedonia.
So I can say that we are creating the conditions to build a climate of security, peace and cooperation in the Aegean that will benefit both peoples of both countries and, of course, this requires one to build carefully. Now we want to put in the foundations so that at some point we can build. We are not ready to build without laying the foundations.
So, this meeting was about creating the conditions, so that we could later make historic strides in Greek-Turkish relations. So I think that in this context, this possibility to converse was extremely successful, extremely effective and honest, and I would like to thank you once again.”
"We want to develop our relations with Greece in every area"
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his statement said:
"We had a long meeting, we discussed the relations of our countries and international issues. We want to develop our relations with Greece in every area."
He estimated among other things that the trade relations of the two countries are far below target. "We believe that all issues can be resolved in a fair way. I have always advocated honest steps. Keep the communication channels open. Every subject can be discussed with friends. Our minorities are strong bridges. We are making every effort to improve the situation of the Greeks."
"Let both sides do their best before starting the dialogue to create a road map. We are looking after the refugees, but we have to pay more attention because we have many deaths in the Aegean. Turkey has kept all its promises on refugee issues. In contrast, the EU has not kept its. Such as those flowing from the Treaty."
"We also talked about the issues of terrorism. We should as allies face up to terrorism. We have to make a road map. Those who are fugitives should not find shelter in a neighbour's land. Those who lost their lives on June 15 should be respected and be respected by Greece as well. We will make overtures to the religious minorities. I believe we will find common solutions."
Finally, President Erdogan expressed his gratitude for the visit of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to his country.
Afterwards, at the joint press conference, PM Alexis Tsipras made this statement:
“Thank you very much, Mr President. I would like to thank you for your welcome and hospitality. And, of course, to thank you, once again, for the sincere talks we have had.
As I had the opportunity to emphasize in the media in the past, who asked me to express a view of my visit, our dialogue over the years has been a sincere, important dialogue not only for the future of our peoples but also for the our wider region, I would say.
The two countries have been able to work closely together in 2015 and 2016 - a critical period. Above all, because it was the period when an unprecedented refugee and migratory crisis broke out. It was then that we managed, for the first time, to cooperate, not only on issues of so-called low politics, but also to address this major international issue. The refugee-immigration crisis.
In this context, we have been able to build a new Euro-Turkish strategy of cooperation. We were able to bring forward, at the same time, the positive agenda of Greek-Turkish relations - our economic and energy cooperation. We were able to conduct rounds of exploratory talks and promote dialogue between our military to reduce tension in the Aegean.
And at the same time, we managed to promote the talks on the Cyprus problem. Talks that have come close to a solution, opening up difficult issues such as security.
Unfortunately, however, there followed the terrible coup here in Turkey and developments that have slowed down this positive course. You will remember that I was one of the first to call you that night to express to you the support of Greece, a country that defends democracy and freedom. And therefore, a country that condemns all forms of coups and, of course, any attempt to abolish democratic legitimacy.
Later, however, it is a fact that there have been developments that have created obstacles and impediments to this positive course of Greek-Turkish relations. There has been rhetoric, many times, controversial. In the Aegean, we have unfortunately seen the number of violations of Greece's national airspace reaching very high levels, with very dangerous incidents on the sea and in the air. And, at the same time, the case of the eight military men [granted asylum in Greece having fled Turkey following the failed coup Ed] you mentioned was a thorn in our relations, and then another thorn, the case of the two Greek soldiers who were detained in Turkey.
Under these circumstances, we could have accepted that this vicious circle is our destiny. Our kismet. We did not. And I'm glad we did not.
Today in our talks, I believe that it was once again clear that neither you nor I accept the logic of inaction and going along with the well-trodden path. Because we recognize that the challenges we face in our times and in our region do not allow us to remain locked in dead ends but to pursue and seek dialogue in order to find a peaceful way to resolve any disputes.
At the same time, in cross-border contacts, in the economy, in tourism, in culture, our peoples, as they live in the same place, are coming closer and closer. And I believe we owe it to our peoples to follow them.
In this context, we are obliged to reverse the logic of the past in order to build a relationship based on mutual respect. A relationship based on respect for International Law, the elimination of the threat of war and, of course, mutual understanding. A mutual understanding of our concerns.
In December 2017, as you said, for the first time, you visited Greece. For the first time, after 65 years, as a Turkish President you visited our country. For the first time after 65 years, we had an official visit by a Turkish President to Greece.
Many people, after our meeting, said that it was not a successful meeting, because we spoke honestly. I said that precisely because we spoke honestly, this meeting, this visit, was successful. Because, precisely, when there are difficulties, we have to talk about it. The channel of communication and dialogue must be open to overcome any differences.
Of course, I too have a small record because, in the four years that I have been Prime Minister, I have visited Turkey four times as Prime Minister. We have met so many other times in international forums. And, of course, in this positive spirit today we have agreed to move forward in the coming period with the main goal of de-escalating tension in the Aegean and promoting confidence-building measures.
And I believe that the talks that will follow our meeting between our Ministers of National Defence and between our Foreign Ministries can really contribute to this.
By creating these conditions, we can, I believe, then make progress and repeat the exploratory talks on the differences we have on the issue of the continental shelf in the Aegean.
We have, of course, discussed the Cyprus question. I stressed the need for a just and viable solution, in the context of UN resolutions, for the benefit of all Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, which will establish a reunited federal Cyprus, a normal country in the region and a normal country of the European Union. And, of course, I believe we are duty bound to make this new effort to avoid mistakes of the past. That is why I have put forward the view that we must agree on preparatory meetings on the crucial issue of security involving Greece and Turkey.
I also stressed the importance of respecting international law in the Eastern Mediterranean and, of course, the need for energy to be a bridge of cooperation, not an obstacle and not a conflict in the region. And, already, on some major energy projects, we are working together, as in the TAP pipeline. We would like to have wider cooperation, on the Turkish Stream, for instance.
Of course, wanting to restore the positive agenda to our talks, we have been talking about the economy, about our economic relations, the steps we must take to change the lives of our citizens in the region for the better.
We agreed that we must work to make the coastal connection between Smyrna and Thessaloniki a reality in the summer. And we agreed to move on to organizing a new business forum that will highlight the opportunities opened for co-operation, especially now that Greece has emerged from a crisis that has plagued it all these past years.
We have, of course, discussed the Refugee Question, our cooperation in the context of the EU-Turkey Declaration and the possibilities for reducing flows, the need for an increase in the numbers of returners and the dealing with the networks of traffickers.
We also agreed on the need to work closely on Euro-Turkish relations, highlighting Turkey's need for support, as it hosts more than 4 million refugees and migrants.
And we discussed the prospect of a revision of the European Union-Turkey Customs Union, for the benefit of, amongst others, all countries in the region.
And of course, I once again had the opportunity to emphasize Greece's continued support for Turkey's accession [to the EU Ed] perspective. Something that will be to both Turkey's benefit and Europe's benefit. And, of course, this course, the accession path can contribute to the return to the important democratic reforms that had taken place over the years and that, of course, must be strengthened.
With regard to the thorny case of the eight soldiers, where the Greek Judiciary has taken a clear decision, I would like to say once again that Greece, as a state subject to the rule of law, must respect the judgments of the Judiciary. In Greece, of course, the putchists are not welcome.
However, what is at stake today is for us to strengthen our cooperation in the field of security in order to deal effectively with the networks of traffickers operating in the Aegean Sea and in Evros, but also to deal with every criminal organization, every suspect, who wants to create problems for the good neighborhood and for the good cooperation between the two countries. So, we have agreed to step up cooperation in the field of security between the respective Ministries.
I would therefore like to conclude, once again, by thanking President Erdogan for the invitation to visit Ankara and tomorrow to come to Constantinople where I will also have the opportunity to visit Halki to meet the Patriarch.
I believe that there is a very significant opportunity in the coming years to invest in the positive agenda of relations between the two countries. The period we are in is a special time. Greece emerging from a multi-year crisis into the [financial Ed] markets, emerging into the economic clearing, has great potential. We are also solving decades-old problems, such as our differences with our northern neighbour, North Macedonia.
So I can say that we are creating the conditions to build a climate of security, peace and cooperation in the Aegean that will benefit both peoples of both countries and, of course, this requires one to build carefully. Now we want to put in the foundations so that at some point we can build. We are not ready to build without laying the foundations.
So, this meeting was about creating the conditions, so that we could later make historic strides in Greek-Turkish relations. So I think that in this context, this possibility to converse was extremely successful, extremely effective and honest, and I would like to thank you once again.”
"We want to develop our relations with Greece in every area"
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in his statement said:
"We had a long meeting, we discussed the relations of our countries and international issues. We want to develop our relations with Greece in every area."
He estimated among other things that the trade relations of the two countries are far below target. "We believe that all issues can be resolved in a fair way. I have always advocated honest steps. Keep the communication channels open. Every subject can be discussed with friends. Our minorities are strong bridges. We are making every effort to improve the situation of the Greeks."
"Let both sides do their best before starting the dialogue to create a road map. We are looking after the refugees, but we have to pay more attention because we have many deaths in the Aegean. Turkey has kept all its promises on refugee issues. In contrast, the EU has not kept its. Such as those flowing from the Treaty."
"We also talked about the issues of terrorism. We should as allies face up to terrorism. We have to make a road map. Those who are fugitives should not find shelter in a neighbour's land. Those who lost their lives on June 15 should be respected and be respected by Greece as well. We will make overtures to the religious minorities. I believe we will find common solutions."
Finally, President Erdogan expressed his gratitude for the visit of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to his country.
Greek Parliament ratifies NATO accession protocol for North Macedonia
The Greek Parliament on Friday ratified the NATO accession protocol for North Macedonia with 153 votes in favour, 140 against and one abstention.
"Today's vote closes the most important round of obligations involving Greece," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told parliament ahead of the vote.
"I'd like to welcome North Macedonia, a country friendly to Greece, a country that must be an ally in efforts to establish security, stability and peace in the region," he said.
"History will judge us. I feel we have carried out our patriotic duty, amid threats and blackmail. But soon the Greek people and history and mostly the next generations will judge us."
“I am proud of the stance of the lawmakers who voted the deal.”
In the Plenary debate, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis said "The ratification of the Protocol for the accession of North Macedonia to NATO serves the strategic interests of Greece," and that "Greece is the main strategic partner of Northern Macedonia, for peacekeeping and enhancing cooperation and for our mutual benefit."
"We understand the fears, the worries, also the objections, but at crucial moments we have to weigh things, have a proper judgment and be decisive. Actions that contribute to the understanding and cooperation between countries contribute to growth and prosperity. In the economy, in culture, in the sciences and in the everyday life of the people, they contribute to the prosperity and well-being of the peoples of our region. There is a very bright future in front of us, let us not stay on a barren and turbulent road. For all these reasons, I propose the ratification of the Protocol," he said and stressed that "the ratification serves the strategic interests of the country, Greece is the strongest country in the region. Every step of de-escalation of tensions in the region is in the strategic interest of Greece, and any turbulence and any attempt to overthrow the status quo are strategically at the expense of Greece."
He said that the ratification of the protocol is a natural follow-up to the adoption of the Prespa Agreement and "Greece has an interest in facilitating the accession of North Macedonia into NATO." Paraphrasing the well-known saying, Mr. Apostolakis pointed out that "as nature abhors the vacuum, so does geopolitics."
He also said that "the accession of North Macedonia to NATO will require that country to systematically prepare and attempt to transform its Armed Forces to meet the Alliance's required standards and requirements regarding interoperability and standardization, in these areas Greece has an important role to play and can do it well and effectively."
At the same time, he pointed out that under the Prespa Agreement, defence co-operation will be strengthened and expanded, with the transfer of know-how, education, joint exercises and capacity-building. "Cooperation will build reciprocal relations and provide multiple benefits that will not just be limited to the defence sector," said Minister Apostolakis and added that Greece's assistance would displace other regional candidates who are trying to benefit and exert their influence on our neighbour.
"Our aim is to make our country a key strategic partner in northern Macedonia, to maintain peace and to strengthen cooperation and for mutual benefit," the Minister said.
The Greek Parliament on Friday ratified the NATO accession protocol for North Macedonia with 153 votes in favour, 140 against and one abstention.
"Today's vote closes the most important round of obligations involving Greece," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told parliament ahead of the vote.
"I'd like to welcome North Macedonia, a country friendly to Greece, a country that must be an ally in efforts to establish security, stability and peace in the region," he said.
"History will judge us. I feel we have carried out our patriotic duty, amid threats and blackmail. But soon the Greek people and history and mostly the next generations will judge us."
“I am proud of the stance of the lawmakers who voted the deal.”
In the Plenary debate, Defence Minister Evangelos Apostolakis said "The ratification of the Protocol for the accession of North Macedonia to NATO serves the strategic interests of Greece," and that "Greece is the main strategic partner of Northern Macedonia, for peacekeeping and enhancing cooperation and for our mutual benefit."
"We understand the fears, the worries, also the objections, but at crucial moments we have to weigh things, have a proper judgment and be decisive. Actions that contribute to the understanding and cooperation between countries contribute to growth and prosperity. In the economy, in culture, in the sciences and in the everyday life of the people, they contribute to the prosperity and well-being of the peoples of our region. There is a very bright future in front of us, let us not stay on a barren and turbulent road. For all these reasons, I propose the ratification of the Protocol," he said and stressed that "the ratification serves the strategic interests of the country, Greece is the strongest country in the region. Every step of de-escalation of tensions in the region is in the strategic interest of Greece, and any turbulence and any attempt to overthrow the status quo are strategically at the expense of Greece."
He said that the ratification of the protocol is a natural follow-up to the adoption of the Prespa Agreement and "Greece has an interest in facilitating the accession of North Macedonia into NATO." Paraphrasing the well-known saying, Mr. Apostolakis pointed out that "as nature abhors the vacuum, so does geopolitics."
He also said that "the accession of North Macedonia to NATO will require that country to systematically prepare and attempt to transform its Armed Forces to meet the Alliance's required standards and requirements regarding interoperability and standardization, in these areas Greece has an important role to play and can do it well and effectively."
At the same time, he pointed out that under the Prespa Agreement, defence co-operation will be strengthened and expanded, with the transfer of know-how, education, joint exercises and capacity-building. "Cooperation will build reciprocal relations and provide multiple benefits that will not just be limited to the defence sector," said Minister Apostolakis and added that Greece's assistance would displace other regional candidates who are trying to benefit and exert their influence on our neighbour.
"Our aim is to make our country a key strategic partner in northern Macedonia, to maintain peace and to strengthen cooperation and for mutual benefit," the Minister said.
“The Greek economy will continue to grow”
The Greek economy is continuing to grow according to the European Commission's "interim" economic forecasts, which were released on Thursday. Real GDP growth in Greece is set to rise from 2% in 2018, to 2.2% in 2019 and to 2.3% in 2020.
"By capitalizing on excess capacity and benefiting from strong external demand, Greece has managed to increase its market share in world trade. Net exports became the main driver of growth in the first three quarters of 2018 and (probably) for the whole year," the Commission said.
In addition, it noted that the major driver of total demand was the increase in private consumption, which was supported by the increase in employment. Investments remained moderate compared with 2017, at least in part, while in the real estate sector, investment in dwellings increased throughout the year.
The Commission also stressed that consumer confidence had almost returned to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2018 and that private consumption is expected to remain the key driver for growth in 2019.
However, the Commission stressed that the increase in exports is expected to moderate, as growth in the tourism sector is slowing down due to the return of competition from Turkey. In addition, it is noted that exports of goods are expected to weaken, but will remain on a rising path despite the economic slowdown in the EU.
For the labour market, the Commission stressed that it is steadily improving as unemployment fell to 18.6% in October 2018, from 21% in the previous year.
Finally, the Commission estimates inflation will reach 0.8% in 2018 and is projected to remain moderate in 2019 due to sluggish energy prices before rising to 1.3% in 2020.
The Greek economy is continuing to grow according to the European Commission's "interim" economic forecasts, which were released on Thursday. Real GDP growth in Greece is set to rise from 2% in 2018, to 2.2% in 2019 and to 2.3% in 2020.
"By capitalizing on excess capacity and benefiting from strong external demand, Greece has managed to increase its market share in world trade. Net exports became the main driver of growth in the first three quarters of 2018 and (probably) for the whole year," the Commission said.
In addition, it noted that the major driver of total demand was the increase in private consumption, which was supported by the increase in employment. Investments remained moderate compared with 2017, at least in part, while in the real estate sector, investment in dwellings increased throughout the year.
The Commission also stressed that consumer confidence had almost returned to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2018 and that private consumption is expected to remain the key driver for growth in 2019.
However, the Commission stressed that the increase in exports is expected to moderate, as growth in the tourism sector is slowing down due to the return of competition from Turkey. In addition, it is noted that exports of goods are expected to weaken, but will remain on a rising path despite the economic slowdown in the EU.
For the labour market, the Commission stressed that it is steadily improving as unemployment fell to 18.6% in October 2018, from 21% in the previous year.
Finally, the Commission estimates inflation will reach 0.8% in 2018 and is projected to remain moderate in 2019 due to sluggish energy prices before rising to 1.3% in 2020.
Greece Prepares for No-Deal Brexit
Bloomberg, a business and markets news agency, published a report this week quoting a Greek Foreign Ministry official [unnamed] describing Greece’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit, which he said were focussed on measures that will allow British Citizens to continue to visit and live in the country as they currently do.
The report states: “With visitors from the U.K. being the second biggest source of tourism income, the country’s most important industry, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Mediterranean nation. A sudden disruption in the flow of some 3 million Britons who visit Greek islands every year could be a shock to a sector that accounts for about a sixth of Greece’s annual economic output.”
“The Greek government is preparing draft bills and presidential degrees that will be needed in case of a so-called hard Brexit. There has been no official statement from the Government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the preparations since its working assumption is that a deal will be struck between the two sides.”
The news item continues: “With its planned Brexit measures, Greece is keen to protect a key part of its economy. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for more than 14% of the country’s tourism income in the January to November period in 2017.”
The official is reported to have said that “among the measures Greece is considering is to maintain the visa-free status for people coming from the U.K. Also, Greece will probably retain the status of U.K. citizens living in the country and not treat them as so-called citizens from third countries, or people from non-EU countries.”
Editorial Note: Rumour and speculation are rife throughout the British Community of Apokoronas. We decided to publish this item primarily because its source, Bloomberg, is a news organisation (rather like the Financial Times) with a reputation for providing accurate information to inform business and investment decision-making.
Bloomberg, a business and markets news agency, published a report this week quoting a Greek Foreign Ministry official [unnamed] describing Greece’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit, which he said were focussed on measures that will allow British Citizens to continue to visit and live in the country as they currently do.
The report states: “With visitors from the U.K. being the second biggest source of tourism income, the country’s most important industry, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Mediterranean nation. A sudden disruption in the flow of some 3 million Britons who visit Greek islands every year could be a shock to a sector that accounts for about a sixth of Greece’s annual economic output.”
“The Greek government is preparing draft bills and presidential degrees that will be needed in case of a so-called hard Brexit. There has been no official statement from the Government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the preparations since its working assumption is that a deal will be struck between the two sides.”
The news item continues: “With its planned Brexit measures, Greece is keen to protect a key part of its economy. Visitors from the U.K. accounted for more than 14% of the country’s tourism income in the January to November period in 2017.”
The official is reported to have said that “among the measures Greece is considering is to maintain the visa-free status for people coming from the U.K. Also, Greece will probably retain the status of U.K. citizens living in the country and not treat them as so-called citizens from third countries, or people from non-EU countries.”
Editorial Note: Rumour and speculation are rife throughout the British Community of Apokoronas. We decided to publish this item primarily because its source, Bloomberg, is a news organisation (rather like the Financial Times) with a reputation for providing accurate information to inform business and investment decision-making.
Minimum Wage Increased
from February 1st
2.2.2019
Minimum Wage Increased from February 1st
The Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity, Efi Achtsioglou, on Tuesday signed the ministerial decision to raise the minimum wage.
From 1st February, the minimum wage is increased to 650 € / month while the sub-minimum wage for young people under 25 is abolished.
The Ministerial Decree stipulates that from 1st February 2019:
- For employees, the minimum wage is increased to 650 € / month.
- For workers, the minimum wage is increased to € 29.04 per day.
- The sub-minimum wage and the lowest day rate for young people up to 25 years of age are abolished.
"With the increase in the minimum wage, we are implementing the government's chief commitment to increase the disposable income of workers, especially young people, by eliminating the age discrimination of the sub-minimum wage.
With the increase in the minimum wage after almost a decade, especially after the dramatic reduction in 2012 by 22% - and by 32% for young people - we are returning to workers a part of what was taken from them by the austerity policies implemented in the country" emphasised the Minister.
The Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity, Efi Achtsioglou, on Tuesday signed the ministerial decision to raise the minimum wage.
From 1st February, the minimum wage is increased to 650 € / month while the sub-minimum wage for young people under 25 is abolished.
The Ministerial Decree stipulates that from 1st February 2019:
- For employees, the minimum wage is increased to 650 € / month.
- For workers, the minimum wage is increased to € 29.04 per day.
- The sub-minimum wage and the lowest day rate for young people up to 25 years of age are abolished.
"With the increase in the minimum wage, we are implementing the government's chief commitment to increase the disposable income of workers, especially young people, by eliminating the age discrimination of the sub-minimum wage.
With the increase in the minimum wage after almost a decade, especially after the dramatic reduction in 2012 by 22% - and by 32% for young people - we are returning to workers a part of what was taken from them by the austerity policies implemented in the country" emphasised the Minister.
"We are showing in practice that there is another way"
The Cabinet approved the increase in the minimum wage from 586€ to 650€ a month (11%); and the abolition of the sub-minimum wage (510€) for young workers up to 25 years old (a 27% increase), so that as of February they have a minimum wage of 650€.
"We owe it to those who suddenly saw, in one night, the coalition government, New Democracy - PASOK reduce the minimum wage by 22% and 32% for young people, to all those men and women who saw the dreams of their lives, their prospects and their expectations sink into the darkness of the crisis."
"A breathing space and hope are being given not only to the 600,000 workers directly affected by the increase, but also to the 280,000 indirectly affected by the increase in bonuses linked to the minimum wage and the prospect of further stimulating fair development."
"We are showing in practice that there is another way"
"The exit from the crisis and the end of the Memoranda is not a proclamation, but something that will crystallize as time goes by, day by day, in the real life of the vast majority of our fellow citizens."
"We are showing in practice that there is another path and that this Government is determined to walk it."
The Prime Minister noted that in October 2019 Greek citizens will be able to compare Greece today with "the country bequeathed by the Governments of the old political system in January 2015" and stressed that "everyone already sees it as a different country - with the preconditions for building a dynamic country, based on its own strengths, a protagonist in the Balkans and Europe".
He said that the abolition of the sub-minimum wage which he called "an unacceptable institution that created two-speed workers without offering absolutely anything to the battle to fight unemployment") and the increase in the minimum wage comes as a culmination of the government's targeted work: reducing “informal” work from 20% in 2014 to 9% in 2018, restoring the collective bargain protection regime, reducing unemployment from 27% in 2014 to 18.3% today, creating 350,000 new jobs.
He described it as an "emblematic initiative for the world of work" with multiple beneficial effects in reducing inequalities, in enhancing workers' income, stimulating growth, in the people’s self-confidence.
The vast majority and ... the neoliberals
He said that the vast majority of our fellow citizens would welcome this initiative and yet there will be objections on the one hand by some social groups "an absolute minority, seeing the crisis as an opportunity to widen social inequalities to their advantage" and on the other hand the so-called neoliberals, "who believe that the precondition for growth is the destruction of the world of work."
"We respond to them that the destruction of the world of work is not the road to sustainable development and stimulating the economy. On the contrary, it is proven to be the recipe for bankruptcy," he commented, adding that "wage growth is the precondition and growth is the result. "
Borrowing with seriousness and technical excellence
During his speech, the Prime Minister reported on the launch of a new five-year bond issue on the money markets. He commented that this "demolishes another of the opposition's false arguments about the country's ability to access international borrowing" and "reminds people that Greece and the Government are not addressing the issue of borrowing in terms of communication fireworks but with a plan and with the seriousness and technical excellence that suits us."
Winning the progressive forces for the Prespa agreement
Alexis Tsipras spoke about the ratification of the Prespa Accord. He underlined that this marks the solution of a historic disquiet with our neighbours and "the passage to a new era of cooperation, solidarity and friendship in the Balkans". It marks, he stressed, the defeat of nationalism, "a victory of the forces that are not meant to leave the future of both peoples to the “nationalists” and the merchants of hate."
The Cabinet approved the increase in the minimum wage from 586€ to 650€ a month (11%); and the abolition of the sub-minimum wage (510€) for young workers up to 25 years old (a 27% increase), so that as of February they have a minimum wage of 650€.
"We owe it to those who suddenly saw, in one night, the coalition government, New Democracy - PASOK reduce the minimum wage by 22% and 32% for young people, to all those men and women who saw the dreams of their lives, their prospects and their expectations sink into the darkness of the crisis."
"A breathing space and hope are being given not only to the 600,000 workers directly affected by the increase, but also to the 280,000 indirectly affected by the increase in bonuses linked to the minimum wage and the prospect of further stimulating fair development."
"We are showing in practice that there is another way"
"The exit from the crisis and the end of the Memoranda is not a proclamation, but something that will crystallize as time goes by, day by day, in the real life of the vast majority of our fellow citizens."
"We are showing in practice that there is another path and that this Government is determined to walk it."
The Prime Minister noted that in October 2019 Greek citizens will be able to compare Greece today with "the country bequeathed by the Governments of the old political system in January 2015" and stressed that "everyone already sees it as a different country - with the preconditions for building a dynamic country, based on its own strengths, a protagonist in the Balkans and Europe".
He said that the abolition of the sub-minimum wage which he called "an unacceptable institution that created two-speed workers without offering absolutely anything to the battle to fight unemployment") and the increase in the minimum wage comes as a culmination of the government's targeted work: reducing “informal” work from 20% in 2014 to 9% in 2018, restoring the collective bargain protection regime, reducing unemployment from 27% in 2014 to 18.3% today, creating 350,000 new jobs.
He described it as an "emblematic initiative for the world of work" with multiple beneficial effects in reducing inequalities, in enhancing workers' income, stimulating growth, in the people’s self-confidence.
The vast majority and ... the neoliberals
He said that the vast majority of our fellow citizens would welcome this initiative and yet there will be objections on the one hand by some social groups "an absolute minority, seeing the crisis as an opportunity to widen social inequalities to their advantage" and on the other hand the so-called neoliberals, "who believe that the precondition for growth is the destruction of the world of work."
"We respond to them that the destruction of the world of work is not the road to sustainable development and stimulating the economy. On the contrary, it is proven to be the recipe for bankruptcy," he commented, adding that "wage growth is the precondition and growth is the result. "
Borrowing with seriousness and technical excellence
During his speech, the Prime Minister reported on the launch of a new five-year bond issue on the money markets. He commented that this "demolishes another of the opposition's false arguments about the country's ability to access international borrowing" and "reminds people that Greece and the Government are not addressing the issue of borrowing in terms of communication fireworks but with a plan and with the seriousness and technical excellence that suits us."
Winning the progressive forces for the Prespa agreement
Alexis Tsipras spoke about the ratification of the Prespa Accord. He underlined that this marks the solution of a historic disquiet with our neighbours and "the passage to a new era of cooperation, solidarity and friendship in the Balkans". It marks, he stressed, the defeat of nationalism, "a victory of the forces that are not meant to leave the future of both peoples to the “nationalists” and the merchants of hate."
"We believe in a Europe that can provide solutions instead of sinking into introversion"
In his statement at the 5th Summit of the Southern Countries of the EU, Alexis Tsipras characterised the Prespa Accord as a major success for Europe.
He added that the most important thing is that the seven leaders are "giving a message of unity and resolve to defend the core European values, the prospect of European integration and international law, and to play a catalytic role in European and regional developments".
"The message we are giving today is a message of co-operation towards finding common European solutions. We believe in a Europe that can provide solutions instead of sinking into introversion."
He also spoke of "a more effective, democratic and social Europe that can play an important role in the international arena as a pillar of peace and stability."
He underlined that the countries of the European South "have experienced the most intense way both the economic and the migration crisis and we have even more reason to fight together".
"We have every reason to want the migration crisis to be tackled through the prism of solidarity, especially when these problems concern the whole of the EU. The countries of the European South, at a time when the logic of national entrenchment is dominant, can also through their delivery and their goal-setting give a message of cooperation and that there are European solutions to the problems we face."
On the same subject he noted the need for "Europe to have a new common European asylum system on the basis of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibilities".
"But we can not talk about solidarity without creating a mechanism for redistributing asylum seekers between member states. And so the revision of the Dublin Treaty [which roughly says that the state responsible for asylum applications is the European country through which migrants first entered the EU Ed] is a priority for us."
"We must jointly fight for the prospect of a Eurozone budget, the integration of the banking union and a European fund to fight unemployment," he said.
"I will have the opportunity next week to go to Istanbul to meet President Erdogan. Apart from my own thoughts, I will also convey to him the climate of today's meeting because we all agree that each country's relations as well as the EU and Turkey must be based on mutual respect and respect for international law."
"In this context, we fully support the prospect of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of UN and European acquis decisions, without guarantees and occupying troops."
He also stressed that "any benefits from the exploitation of the natural resources that are the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus must be benefits that will be shared equally by both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots".
In his statement at the 5th Summit of the Southern Countries of the EU, Alexis Tsipras characterised the Prespa Accord as a major success for Europe.
He added that the most important thing is that the seven leaders are "giving a message of unity and resolve to defend the core European values, the prospect of European integration and international law, and to play a catalytic role in European and regional developments".
"The message we are giving today is a message of co-operation towards finding common European solutions. We believe in a Europe that can provide solutions instead of sinking into introversion."
He also spoke of "a more effective, democratic and social Europe that can play an important role in the international arena as a pillar of peace and stability."
He underlined that the countries of the European South "have experienced the most intense way both the economic and the migration crisis and we have even more reason to fight together".
"We have every reason to want the migration crisis to be tackled through the prism of solidarity, especially when these problems concern the whole of the EU. The countries of the European South, at a time when the logic of national entrenchment is dominant, can also through their delivery and their goal-setting give a message of cooperation and that there are European solutions to the problems we face."
On the same subject he noted the need for "Europe to have a new common European asylum system on the basis of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibilities".
"But we can not talk about solidarity without creating a mechanism for redistributing asylum seekers between member states. And so the revision of the Dublin Treaty [which roughly says that the state responsible for asylum applications is the European country through which migrants first entered the EU Ed] is a priority for us."
"We must jointly fight for the prospect of a Eurozone budget, the integration of the banking union and a European fund to fight unemployment," he said.
"I will have the opportunity next week to go to Istanbul to meet President Erdogan. Apart from my own thoughts, I will also convey to him the climate of today's meeting because we all agree that each country's relations as well as the EU and Turkey must be based on mutual respect and respect for international law."
"In this context, we fully support the prospect of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of UN and European acquis decisions, without guarantees and occupying troops."
He also stressed that "any benefits from the exploitation of the natural resources that are the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus must be benefits that will be shared equally by both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots".
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Foreign Ministry Statement Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Sunday, 27 January 2019
“Today marks the 74th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the allied forces. The International Community has chosen this symbolic day to honour the memory of the millions of Jews who were exterminated with the use of unprecedented, systematic and bureaucratically organised methods at Nazi death camps and elsewhere.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a day of responsibility, an international anniversary which once again brings to mind the darkest chapter of European history, which has since constituted a basic element of our collective European identity.
The Jewish communities of Greece suffered irreparably due to the Nazi atrocities, which led to their near annihilation. The Greek State today pays tribute to the memory of millions of our fellow citizens and foreign Jews who fell victim to the most heinous crime in modern History. We also honour the survivors of the Shoah, recognising the indelible wounds to their bodies and souls, as well as the courage and selfless sacrifice of those who rushed to protect those mercilessly persecuted.
Greece joins its voice to the consciousness of all Humanity, and its efforts to those of the other 31 members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance that have undertaken, through the Stockholm Declaration, the responsibility of preserving the collective memory of our fellow men and women that perished in the Holocaust. At the same time, it repeats its pandemic condemnation of any act that denies historical truth and defames the memory of the millions of victims of the Shoah. We honour and we commit ourselves in memory of all those lost, and in the name of all who survived, that we shall never forget.”
Foreign Ministry Statement Marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Sunday, 27 January 2019
“Today marks the 74th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the allied forces. The International Community has chosen this symbolic day to honour the memory of the millions of Jews who were exterminated with the use of unprecedented, systematic and bureaucratically organised methods at Nazi death camps and elsewhere.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is a day of responsibility, an international anniversary which once again brings to mind the darkest chapter of European history, which has since constituted a basic element of our collective European identity.
The Jewish communities of Greece suffered irreparably due to the Nazi atrocities, which led to their near annihilation. The Greek State today pays tribute to the memory of millions of our fellow citizens and foreign Jews who fell victim to the most heinous crime in modern History. We also honour the survivors of the Shoah, recognising the indelible wounds to their bodies and souls, as well as the courage and selfless sacrifice of those who rushed to protect those mercilessly persecuted.
Greece joins its voice to the consciousness of all Humanity, and its efforts to those of the other 31 members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance that have undertaken, through the Stockholm Declaration, the responsibility of preserving the collective memory of our fellow men and women that perished in the Holocaust. At the same time, it repeats its pandemic condemnation of any act that denies historical truth and defames the memory of the millions of victims of the Shoah. We honour and we commit ourselves in memory of all those lost, and in the name of all who survived, that we shall never forget.”
Greek Society Today…
The traditional Greek family has changed over the years of the crisis, with single-person households accounting for nearly one in three of all homes, according to recent figures released by the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat.
The number of single-person households in Greece increased by four percentage points to 31% between 2007 and 2017.
The next largest group is married couples without children, who account for 25.2% of all households (up from 24.1%). They are followed by married couples with children, who account for 21.9% of the total (down from 23.2% in 2007).
In fourth place, accounting for 15.7% of the total, are unmarried couples without children.
The number of marriages dropped from 62,195 in 1993 to 50,138 in 2017, according to figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, ELSTAT while divorces increased from 7,725 in 1993 to 13,494 in 2005, rising to around the 15,000 level during the years of the crisis.
Civil weddings also became more popular, with 25,854 ceremonies recorded in 2016 compared to 23,788 religious weddings.
Meanwhile, the number of cohabitation agreements soared – from 581 in 2013 to 4,921 in 2017, ELSTAT figures showed.
Births outside of wedlock also increased – accounting for 9.4% of the total in 2015 compared to 5.1% of the total in 2004.
Single-parent families increased too during the same period – from 1.8% to 2.3% of the total.
The traditional Greek family has changed over the years of the crisis, with single-person households accounting for nearly one in three of all homes, according to recent figures released by the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat.
The number of single-person households in Greece increased by four percentage points to 31% between 2007 and 2017.
The next largest group is married couples without children, who account for 25.2% of all households (up from 24.1%). They are followed by married couples with children, who account for 21.9% of the total (down from 23.2% in 2007).
In fourth place, accounting for 15.7% of the total, are unmarried couples without children.
The number of marriages dropped from 62,195 in 1993 to 50,138 in 2017, according to figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, ELSTAT while divorces increased from 7,725 in 1993 to 13,494 in 2005, rising to around the 15,000 level during the years of the crisis.
Civil weddings also became more popular, with 25,854 ceremonies recorded in 2016 compared to 23,788 religious weddings.
Meanwhile, the number of cohabitation agreements soared – from 581 in 2013 to 4,921 in 2017, ELSTAT figures showed.
Births outside of wedlock also increased – accounting for 9.4% of the total in 2015 compared to 5.1% of the total in 2004.
Single-parent families increased too during the same period – from 1.8% to 2.3% of the total.
Bishop Found Guilty of Incitement to Homophobia
Amvrosios, the Bishop of Kalavryta, in the Northern Peloponnese was found guilty of abuse of ecclesiastical office and incitement to hatred by a court in Aigio on Monday.
The Bishop had advised people to spit on gays in 2015, saying ”do not go near them! Do not listen to them! Do not trust them! They are the damned members of society!”
Bishop Amvrosios received a suspended sentence of a seven months' imprisonment. During the trial, he stated that he never said these things against homosexuals themselves. He claimed that his remarks were made against the politicians who voted in favour of the extension of civil partnerships to LGBT people, back in 2016.
Previously, Bishop Amvrosios has described homosexual people as “monstrosities of nature,” arguing that they are ”psychologically and spiritually unwell.” He has also spoken publicly in favour of the neo-Nazi party “Golden Dawn.”
Amvrosios, the Bishop of Kalavryta, in the Northern Peloponnese was found guilty of abuse of ecclesiastical office and incitement to hatred by a court in Aigio on Monday.
The Bishop had advised people to spit on gays in 2015, saying ”do not go near them! Do not listen to them! Do not trust them! They are the damned members of society!”
Bishop Amvrosios received a suspended sentence of a seven months' imprisonment. During the trial, he stated that he never said these things against homosexuals themselves. He claimed that his remarks were made against the politicians who voted in favour of the extension of civil partnerships to LGBT people, back in 2016.
Previously, Bishop Amvrosios has described homosexual people as “monstrosities of nature,” arguing that they are ”psychologically and spiritually unwell.” He has also spoken publicly in favour of the neo-Nazi party “Golden Dawn.”
Parliament Ratifies
Prespa Accord
26.01.2019
Yesterday afternoon (Friday 25.01.2019) with 153 in favour, 146 against and 1 abstention, Parliament approved the ratification of the Prespa Accord.
In addition to the 145 MPs of SYRIZA, ANEL MP Thanasis Papachristopoulos and Independent MPs Thanasis Theocharopoulos, Spyros Lykoudis, Elena Kountoura, Katerina Papakosta, George Mavrotas, Spyros Danellis, Stavros Theodorakis voted for the Accord.
According to the agreement that was signed by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev on June 17, 2018, FYROM will change its constitutional name from the ”Republic of Macedonia” to the ”Republic of North Macedonia”.
FYROM is now expected to join NATO under its new, ”North Macedonia”, name.
In addition to the 145 MPs of SYRIZA, ANEL MP Thanasis Papachristopoulos and Independent MPs Thanasis Theocharopoulos, Spyros Lykoudis, Elena Kountoura, Katerina Papakosta, George Mavrotas, Spyros Danellis, Stavros Theodorakis voted for the Accord.
According to the agreement that was signed by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev on June 17, 2018, FYROM will change its constitutional name from the ”Republic of Macedonia” to the ”Republic of North Macedonia”.
FYROM is now expected to join NATO under its new, ”North Macedonia”, name.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras welcoming the ratification of the Prespa Agreement said:
"Today is a historic day for Greece finally bringing an end to a large issue that was outstanding – an issue that was weighing the region down. And we are protecting a piece of the ancient Greek heritage.
The heritage of ancient Greek Macedonia. At the same time, however, it is also a historic day for the Balkans. The Balkans with a long history of wars, conflicts, contention, nationalist hatred. We are turning the page and giving space to peace, to cooperation, to friendship, to solidarity, to mutual understanding. I want from the bottom of my heart to thank the 153 Members of our Parliament who, despite the great pressures, blackmailing, personal attacks, endured and stood up equal to the situation, equal to their conscience, putting first their patriotic duty that they themselves believed and believe is in the interest, the national interest of our country."
I am sure that future generations and the two peoples will be grateful to them because today they are laying the foundations for a future of peaceful coexistence, solidarity and cooperation.
However, I would like to address all Greek women and men. The result of today's vote has no winners and losers. In particular, I want to address those who still today have their objections, we respect those objections, they have their criticisms, we respect those criticisms. Let them be assured that, very soon, they will see the great benefits for the country from this historic step forward.
Today a new country was born on our northern border, North Macedonia, we welcome it. It will be a country friendly to Greece. It will be an ally of Greece in her effort to consolidate peace, co-operation, co-development in our region. A Greece that today, I think, is taking a significant step forward, establishing a leading role in the Balkan region and more generally in the south-east Mediterranean.
I therefore believe that this is an important step forward, an historic step, and I want to thank all the Members, not only those who have endorsed this historic agreement, but also those who, despite their disagreements, have contributed to climate of a political culture these four days in Parliament where we have discussed extensively and in depth."
"Today is a historic day for Greece finally bringing an end to a large issue that was outstanding – an issue that was weighing the region down. And we are protecting a piece of the ancient Greek heritage.
The heritage of ancient Greek Macedonia. At the same time, however, it is also a historic day for the Balkans. The Balkans with a long history of wars, conflicts, contention, nationalist hatred. We are turning the page and giving space to peace, to cooperation, to friendship, to solidarity, to mutual understanding. I want from the bottom of my heart to thank the 153 Members of our Parliament who, despite the great pressures, blackmailing, personal attacks, endured and stood up equal to the situation, equal to their conscience, putting first their patriotic duty that they themselves believed and believe is in the interest, the national interest of our country."
I am sure that future generations and the two peoples will be grateful to them because today they are laying the foundations for a future of peaceful coexistence, solidarity and cooperation.
However, I would like to address all Greek women and men. The result of today's vote has no winners and losers. In particular, I want to address those who still today have their objections, we respect those objections, they have their criticisms, we respect those criticisms. Let them be assured that, very soon, they will see the great benefits for the country from this historic step forward.
Today a new country was born on our northern border, North Macedonia, we welcome it. It will be a country friendly to Greece. It will be an ally of Greece in her effort to consolidate peace, co-operation, co-development in our region. A Greece that today, I think, is taking a significant step forward, establishing a leading role in the Balkan region and more generally in the south-east Mediterranean.
I therefore believe that this is an important step forward, an historic step, and I want to thank all the Members, not only those who have endorsed this historic agreement, but also those who, despite their disagreements, have contributed to climate of a political culture these four days in Parliament where we have discussed extensively and in depth."
“An historic day that puts an end to a 30-year-old national hypocrisy and opens a new era for the Balkans.”
On Thursday the Prime Minister had spoken in Parliament about “a historic day that puts an end to a 30-year-old national hypocrisy and opens a new era for the Balkans.”
"In the face of historical events, we all take on responsibility towards the people and the nation. We are confronted with our conscience and with our historical responsibility."
Our history is our soul
"Our history is our soul and we are taking it back. No one can appropriate it for their own use." "Greece is taking back what belongs to it: its history, symbols, tradition, the legacy of ancient Greek Macedonia. North Macedonia becomes a friend, an ally, a supporter of Greece in pursuit of cooperation, peace and security in the region."
The hypocrisy of New Democracy
"When the Greek Government succeeded in getting accepted all the key central negotiating positions of the country, then Mr. Mitsotakis began to talk about "the surrender of language and ethnicity. And when our neighbours themselves clarified in the verbal note that the deal does not recognize ethnicity but citizenship and that their language is Slavic, then he discovered the oxymoron that "we are betraying the people."
"When he saw that the Government had achieved a composite name erga omnes, "he shifted position and set as a non-negotiable condition that this be guaranteed by a revision of its name in the Constitution."
"When he saw, he continued, that this was achieved, he insisted that the revision of the constitution be completed before the ratification of the agreement in the Greek Parliament."
"You, Mr. Mitsotakis, sent during those days Mrs Spyraki to Brussels to meet Mr Zaef in a secret cafe, to say to him: Stop, do not go with them, we want to go ahead, but do not go with them."
"You concern yourself with completely secondary matters and not with the essentials, because you have a lack of arguments."
Your problem is SYRIZA
"Your main problem is not the accord. Your main problem is SYRIZA. Your main problem is that I brought this deal, Mr. Kotzias brought it."
"The inaction, the timidity, the procrastination, which had become a doctrine of foreign policy, resulted in persistent diplomatic defeats for the Greek side, which resulted in more than 130 countries, including the USA, Russia and China, recognizing it by its constitutional name. The press and the whole of public opinion call it "Macedonia".
"If the accord is "nationally damaging" then the national line and strategy that you have built for so many years has been nationally damaging." Samaras was first to accept "Macedonia"
"Along with the risk of Greece losing the name "Macedonia", we were in danger of losing a big part of our history because of the unprecedented falsification, forgery and misappropriation of the history, cultural heritage and symbols of Macedonia, which was and is historically an integral part of the ancient Greek heritage."
"The term "Macedonia" was first accepted by Mr Samaras, "the great Macedonian Defender", who had flat out put his signature to Community [EEC Ed] Regulation 3567 on trade agreements on December 2, 1991, by which for the first time the Republic of Macedonia was recognized.
"The nationalist frenzy of the early 1990s shaped public opinion, creating the image of a country of fear, without national self-confidence, culminating in the "maximalist position agreed upon by the famous Council of Political Leaders in 1992 – except for the Communist Party [KKE] on the non-use of the term “Macedonia” or derivatives about the neighbouring country."
"The last time a debate was held on the change of the neighbour's constitution in 1992, under the Mitsotakis [Father’s Ed] government, had Mr. Samaras asked for the removal of references in the neighbour’s Constitution to a Macedonian nation or people? The answer is No."
Where were you over the 25 years of passports referring to 'Macedonians'? Where were you in 2008-2009, when the visa regime for the passports of FYROM citizens in the Schengen area was negotiated and liberalized?"
“Democracy in our country is strong and it will win.”
“The egg of the snake has broken [A Greek metaphorical image for the (re-) birth of fascism Ed] and threatens our Republic. The minimum that I expect from Mr Mitsotakis and all the parties is this time to issue condemnations without mincing their words”, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said about the fascist assault with Molotov cocktails on the house of MP Theodoras Tzakri.
“At the beginning, it was the targeting of MPs with threatening messages. Then with posters. Following that were the battalions attacking Parliament. For us to end up with the arson of the homes of MPs. All those who make out that they do not see, do not hear, do not understand bear an enormous responsibility.
Everyone knows: The attempted intimidation will not work.“
On Thursday the Prime Minister had spoken in Parliament about “a historic day that puts an end to a 30-year-old national hypocrisy and opens a new era for the Balkans.”
"In the face of historical events, we all take on responsibility towards the people and the nation. We are confronted with our conscience and with our historical responsibility."
Our history is our soul
"Our history is our soul and we are taking it back. No one can appropriate it for their own use." "Greece is taking back what belongs to it: its history, symbols, tradition, the legacy of ancient Greek Macedonia. North Macedonia becomes a friend, an ally, a supporter of Greece in pursuit of cooperation, peace and security in the region."
The hypocrisy of New Democracy
"When the Greek Government succeeded in getting accepted all the key central negotiating positions of the country, then Mr. Mitsotakis began to talk about "the surrender of language and ethnicity. And when our neighbours themselves clarified in the verbal note that the deal does not recognize ethnicity but citizenship and that their language is Slavic, then he discovered the oxymoron that "we are betraying the people."
"When he saw that the Government had achieved a composite name erga omnes, "he shifted position and set as a non-negotiable condition that this be guaranteed by a revision of its name in the Constitution."
"When he saw, he continued, that this was achieved, he insisted that the revision of the constitution be completed before the ratification of the agreement in the Greek Parliament."
"You, Mr. Mitsotakis, sent during those days Mrs Spyraki to Brussels to meet Mr Zaef in a secret cafe, to say to him: Stop, do not go with them, we want to go ahead, but do not go with them."
"You concern yourself with completely secondary matters and not with the essentials, because you have a lack of arguments."
Your problem is SYRIZA
"Your main problem is not the accord. Your main problem is SYRIZA. Your main problem is that I brought this deal, Mr. Kotzias brought it."
"The inaction, the timidity, the procrastination, which had become a doctrine of foreign policy, resulted in persistent diplomatic defeats for the Greek side, which resulted in more than 130 countries, including the USA, Russia and China, recognizing it by its constitutional name. The press and the whole of public opinion call it "Macedonia".
"If the accord is "nationally damaging" then the national line and strategy that you have built for so many years has been nationally damaging." Samaras was first to accept "Macedonia"
"Along with the risk of Greece losing the name "Macedonia", we were in danger of losing a big part of our history because of the unprecedented falsification, forgery and misappropriation of the history, cultural heritage and symbols of Macedonia, which was and is historically an integral part of the ancient Greek heritage."
"The term "Macedonia" was first accepted by Mr Samaras, "the great Macedonian Defender", who had flat out put his signature to Community [EEC Ed] Regulation 3567 on trade agreements on December 2, 1991, by which for the first time the Republic of Macedonia was recognized.
"The nationalist frenzy of the early 1990s shaped public opinion, creating the image of a country of fear, without national self-confidence, culminating in the "maximalist position agreed upon by the famous Council of Political Leaders in 1992 – except for the Communist Party [KKE] on the non-use of the term “Macedonia” or derivatives about the neighbouring country."
"The last time a debate was held on the change of the neighbour's constitution in 1992, under the Mitsotakis [Father’s Ed] government, had Mr. Samaras asked for the removal of references in the neighbour’s Constitution to a Macedonian nation or people? The answer is No."
Where were you over the 25 years of passports referring to 'Macedonians'? Where were you in 2008-2009, when the visa regime for the passports of FYROM citizens in the Schengen area was negotiated and liberalized?"
“Democracy in our country is strong and it will win.”
“The egg of the snake has broken [A Greek metaphorical image for the (re-) birth of fascism Ed] and threatens our Republic. The minimum that I expect from Mr Mitsotakis and all the parties is this time to issue condemnations without mincing their words”, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said about the fascist assault with Molotov cocktails on the house of MP Theodoras Tzakri.
“At the beginning, it was the targeting of MPs with threatening messages. Then with posters. Following that were the battalions attacking Parliament. For us to end up with the arson of the homes of MPs. All those who make out that they do not see, do not hear, do not understand bear an enormous responsibility.
Everyone knows: The attempted intimidation will not work.“
Some Background
In an interview earlier in the week, "A historic step for the two countries," was how the Prime Minister described the Prespa Accord.
The Prespa Accord, according to Alexis Tsipras, could become the catalyst for the creation of a new progressive pole in Greece. On the way to the European elections, he argued that it is "an obligation for all the forces defending democracy and social justice to form a strong progressive pole and to put forward an alternative path."
* The next week the Prespa agreement comes to the House. What does its vote mean for the country, for the Left, for you personally?
“The Prespa agreement is a historic step not only for the two countries and the wider region but also for the whole of Europe. Because it establishes relations of friendship, cooperation and stability in an environment in which the world is constantly destabilizing.
With the Prespa Accord, a decade-long confrontation has been brought to an end, a confrontation which has served to foster nationalist populism and jingoism on both sides. And the agreement is historic precisely because, to get here, we have to say a big “No” to these dangerous trends, which are to be found in enduring strength and on the rise in Europe. So we have every reason to be proud. The deal, a product of lengthy and painful negotiation, fully enshrines our national interests, puts a definitive end to the exploitation of history and irredentism, and at the same time respects the dignity of all sides. Ratification is a patriotic task. And the majority of Parliament House will respond to this task, leaving aside political differences and petty party games of tactics.”
* Do you share the assessment that Mr. Mitsotakis is terrified in case the agreement does not pass?
“All this time, Mr. Mitsotakis has been involved in an unprecedented hypocrisy. Within the country, he has adopted the line of the Extreme Right without any pretence, reaching the point of offering political cover even to unacceptable practices of violence and intimidation, which he refuses to condemn. He has surrendered the formation of the political line and the public representation of his party to the extreme right wing of Mr. Samaras. And at some point he will find himself face to face with it, but it is his own issue.
At the same time, to people in Europe that he speaks to, Mr. Mitsotakis sends conciliatory messages, as we have seen from the revelations of European People’s Party [EPP] officials, but also from what has become known about Mrs Spyraki's contacts with Zaef himself. I would therefore consider it reasonable for Mr Mitsotakis to worry that if he is called upon to manage this issue, all this theatre he has set up will turn into chaos. Fortunately, it will not be necessary. But I leave it like this: how irresponsible, immoral and dangerous it is to play with the extreme right and the policy of hatred to gain some temporary electoral benefit. And this is something that does not go unnoticed by the great democratic majority of society.”
* What do you say to the people who will be in the rally today [Sunday Ed], do you also count them among the Extreme Right?
“In a democratic society, the right of citizens to demonstrate their views peacefully is non-negotiable. And I totally and unequivocally disagree with positions claiming that anyone opposed to the Prespa Agreement is a fascist.
But I think it is the duty of everyone to isolate the extreme groups - which I imagine will try to manipulate this rally - but also to refrain from hate speech and slogans. There has been enough civil hatred in the history of this country. Enough. Confrontations must be made through arguments and dialogue.”
* The proposal, however, that you made to Mr. Mitsotakis for a TV dialogue in a trans-channel broadcast, he rejected it. Why?
“Mr. Mitsotakis chooses the easy way of slogans and soundbites. He is afraid of direct live dialogue, because such a dialogue requires arguments that can stand up. It is obvious that on the Macedonian Question he does not have such arguments, and the arguments he invokes he doesn’t believe them.
He chooses strange reasoning against straight talking, the sleight of hand against the truth, jingoism against patriotic responsibility. Do you believe that in a live TV debate this would not be visible? That's why he refused.”
* So do not you consider seriously the arguments put forward by Mr. Mitsotakis about the surrender of language and ethnicity?
“These arguments were, from the outset, a pretext. It was a conscious sleight of hand on the part of Mr. Mitsotakis. I can not imagine that as a student of English, Mr. Mitsotakis is unable to distinguish the term “nationality” from the term “ethnicity”. To understand, that is to say, the difference between citizenship and ethnicity.
In any case, the clarifying statement of our neighbours, with the legally binding verbatim note they have sent, closes every conversation, even for the most untrusting. The agreement defines only citizenship, not ethnicity. They accept their language as being Slavic and that their cultural heritage has nothing to do with ancient Macedonia.
Whoever does not understand, has only to read the nationalist VMRO’s announcement about the verbatim note. Finally, VMRO and New Democracy are the two sides of the same coin: jingoism.”
In an interview earlier in the week, "A historic step for the two countries," was how the Prime Minister described the Prespa Accord.
The Prespa Accord, according to Alexis Tsipras, could become the catalyst for the creation of a new progressive pole in Greece. On the way to the European elections, he argued that it is "an obligation for all the forces defending democracy and social justice to form a strong progressive pole and to put forward an alternative path."
* The next week the Prespa agreement comes to the House. What does its vote mean for the country, for the Left, for you personally?
“The Prespa agreement is a historic step not only for the two countries and the wider region but also for the whole of Europe. Because it establishes relations of friendship, cooperation and stability in an environment in which the world is constantly destabilizing.
With the Prespa Accord, a decade-long confrontation has been brought to an end, a confrontation which has served to foster nationalist populism and jingoism on both sides. And the agreement is historic precisely because, to get here, we have to say a big “No” to these dangerous trends, which are to be found in enduring strength and on the rise in Europe. So we have every reason to be proud. The deal, a product of lengthy and painful negotiation, fully enshrines our national interests, puts a definitive end to the exploitation of history and irredentism, and at the same time respects the dignity of all sides. Ratification is a patriotic task. And the majority of Parliament House will respond to this task, leaving aside political differences and petty party games of tactics.”
* Do you share the assessment that Mr. Mitsotakis is terrified in case the agreement does not pass?
“All this time, Mr. Mitsotakis has been involved in an unprecedented hypocrisy. Within the country, he has adopted the line of the Extreme Right without any pretence, reaching the point of offering political cover even to unacceptable practices of violence and intimidation, which he refuses to condemn. He has surrendered the formation of the political line and the public representation of his party to the extreme right wing of Mr. Samaras. And at some point he will find himself face to face with it, but it is his own issue.
At the same time, to people in Europe that he speaks to, Mr. Mitsotakis sends conciliatory messages, as we have seen from the revelations of European People’s Party [EPP] officials, but also from what has become known about Mrs Spyraki's contacts with Zaef himself. I would therefore consider it reasonable for Mr Mitsotakis to worry that if he is called upon to manage this issue, all this theatre he has set up will turn into chaos. Fortunately, it will not be necessary. But I leave it like this: how irresponsible, immoral and dangerous it is to play with the extreme right and the policy of hatred to gain some temporary electoral benefit. And this is something that does not go unnoticed by the great democratic majority of society.”
* What do you say to the people who will be in the rally today [Sunday Ed], do you also count them among the Extreme Right?
“In a democratic society, the right of citizens to demonstrate their views peacefully is non-negotiable. And I totally and unequivocally disagree with positions claiming that anyone opposed to the Prespa Agreement is a fascist.
But I think it is the duty of everyone to isolate the extreme groups - which I imagine will try to manipulate this rally - but also to refrain from hate speech and slogans. There has been enough civil hatred in the history of this country. Enough. Confrontations must be made through arguments and dialogue.”
* The proposal, however, that you made to Mr. Mitsotakis for a TV dialogue in a trans-channel broadcast, he rejected it. Why?
“Mr. Mitsotakis chooses the easy way of slogans and soundbites. He is afraid of direct live dialogue, because such a dialogue requires arguments that can stand up. It is obvious that on the Macedonian Question he does not have such arguments, and the arguments he invokes he doesn’t believe them.
He chooses strange reasoning against straight talking, the sleight of hand against the truth, jingoism against patriotic responsibility. Do you believe that in a live TV debate this would not be visible? That's why he refused.”
* So do not you consider seriously the arguments put forward by Mr. Mitsotakis about the surrender of language and ethnicity?
“These arguments were, from the outset, a pretext. It was a conscious sleight of hand on the part of Mr. Mitsotakis. I can not imagine that as a student of English, Mr. Mitsotakis is unable to distinguish the term “nationality” from the term “ethnicity”. To understand, that is to say, the difference between citizenship and ethnicity.
In any case, the clarifying statement of our neighbours, with the legally binding verbatim note they have sent, closes every conversation, even for the most untrusting. The agreement defines only citizenship, not ethnicity. They accept their language as being Slavic and that their cultural heritage has nothing to do with ancient Macedonia.
Whoever does not understand, has only to read the nationalist VMRO’s announcement about the verbatim note. Finally, VMRO and New Democracy are the two sides of the same coin: jingoism.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published its responses to citizens' frequent questions about the Prespa Agreement.
What has been the national line adopted by previous governments?
The national position, as it has been publicly expressed for over 15 years, is for a composte name with a geographic definition for use in all situations (erga omnes).
In the programme statements of the Karamanlis government, Foreign Minister D. Bakoyannis on 30/09/2007 stated that "Greece seeks to find a mutually acceptable solution based on a composite name."
In the programmatic statements of the Samaras government, Ms. Avramopoulos emphasized on 7/7/2012: "Greece, demonstrating the necessary constructive spirit, has made a major compromise, accepting a composite name with a geographical definition and for use in all situations."
In the General Assembly of the UN on 27.9.2014 the Foreign Minister and Vice-President of the Samaras Government, Evangelos Venizelos noted: "Greece has taken very important steps to date and we expect the other side to do so. We propose a mutually acceptable composite name with a geographical definition before the word "Macedonia" for every use, erga omnes".
What is Greece gaining from the Prespa Agreement?
1) Our neighbouring country is to be called “North Macedonia” and the international recognition of FYROM with its constitutional name (by more than 130 countries) comes to an end. From now on, not only does the name of the country cease to be "Macedonia", but, in addition, all state institutions, public buildings and even private bodies, if they are funded by the State or established by law (Article 1 (3) (g) can not be called "Macedonian", without the additional definition of "North".
2) European prospects and stability are strengthened in the neighbouring country and so the risk is circumscribed of third-party influence with alien irredentist plans on the northern border of Greece.
3) Not only is a significant diplomatic chapter safeguarded so that other growing challenges faced by Greece can be addressed, but its role in the region is strengthened as a European pillar of peace and security, and the aggressive nationalism of other powers is weakened.
4) The role of Macedonia and Thrace is upgraded to a regional economic hub. Greece and FYROM, pending the Nomenclature, have a conventional framework of bilateral relations that is totally inadequate - the conventional framework of relations between Greece and the then Yugoslavia . There are no major agreements, such as the Agreement for the Protection of Investments and the Agreement for Protection against Double Taxation, and all the other modern financial agreements and road and rail transport agreements, the lack of which have implications for our investments in the neighbouring area, for our exports, for road, rail and energy interconnectivity, for the port of Thessaloniki and its natural economic hinterland.
5) For the first time, the neighbouring country recognizes that it is not related to the "ancient Greek civilisation, history, culture and legacy" of Macedonia (Article 7 (3), (4)). Furthermore, it is bound (article 8 (2), (3)) to dismantle the notorious programme of archaism (anything "mentioned in any way in ancient Greek history and culture that is an integral part of the historical or cultural heritage of Greece" in infrastructure / buildings / monuments ) and for the removal of the Sun of Vergina from all public places and its withdrawal from any public use. This process has already begun, with the already renamed Airport of the neighbouring country as well as the National Road to Skopje.
It is noted that, of course, there has never been any question of limiting the use of the term Macedonia as far as Greece is concerned, which maintains it in full (eg Macedonia Airport).
(6) FYROM amends the descriptive epithets of all state organizations and its public institutions / organizations, as well as those of private institutions / organizations / bodies subsidized by the State or constituted by law in order to tie in with the composite name "North Macedonia" and no longer "Macedonian".
7) The neighboring country is bound by the Agreement (Articles 4, 6) and by amendment to its Constitution (Articles 3 and 49) to eliminate any form of revisionism and irredentism (by public or private bodies), respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of Greece and the principle of non-interference in our internal affairs.
8) The creation of the Joint Interdisciplinary Committee of Experts on Historical, Archaeological and Educational Issues is also envisaged, which will also examine the textbooks, in order to eliminate, as specifically stated, the irrelevant references (eg maps of "Great Macedonia") the elimination of which we have been trying unsuccessfully to achieve for years).
9) It eliminates any, even indirect, possibility of claiming "rights" for a supposed minority in our country. Our neighboring country agrees that "nothing in its Constitution as it is today or will be modified in the future" will be a basis for intervention in Greece's internal affairs "including the protection of the status and the rights of any persons not citizens" Article 4 (3)). Its Constitution is modified in a way that assures support only to its citizens and to its Diaspora (and not to "the Macedonian people in the neighbouring countries", as it is referred to today).
Do we recognize the "Macedonian nation" or "Macedonian language" in the Prespa Agreement?
Nation / Nationality / Citizenship
1) The Agreement defines only the "citizenship" of the neighbour's citizens, which is the legal bond between the citizen and the state. Moreover, FYROM formally confirmed to Greece through the 16/1/2019 Memorandum of Understanding, which is legally binding on FYROM, that the use of the term "nationality" in the English version of the Prespa Agreement refers only to "citizenship" . Indeed, both Greece and FYROM in their official translations of the Agreement have attributed the English term "nationality" to the word «ιθαγένεια». Moreover, in all international texts (both conventional and non-contractual) the term "nationality" denotes nationality rather than national origin.
2) Today, and for more than 25 years, in the passports of Macedonian citizens, citizenship is defined by the word "Macedonian". In 2009, in FYROM, freedom from the scrutiny of its citizens' passports was granted as regards their entry to the Schengen area.
(3) From the entry into force of the Agreement, the indicator “citizen of Northern Macedonia” shall be added as the nationality to all travel documents to the term already in use.
4) The Prespa Agreement does not mention or regulate issues of ethnicity. Besides, the amendment to the FYROM Constitution states that "citizenship does not specify, nor does it predetermine the ethnicity of the citizens of the country". This is stated explicitly and is binding on FYROM and the verbal note sent by Skopje.
5) The Agreement, therefore, does not recognize a "Macedonian people" or a "Macedonian nation". Moreover, the agreement does not deny the right of Greek citizens to call the citizens of our neighbouring country using the terms they use today (Article 7).
Language
1) The Third United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names held in 1977 in Athens recognized "Macedonian" as an official language. Already, however, in his speech to Parliament in September 1959, then Foreign Minister E. Averoff stressed: "The Macedonian language spoken in Skopje is not spoken in Greek Macedonia, and it has both grammar and syntax."
2) The reference to a Macedonian language, "MK, MKD", has been used since 1994, with no asterisks, as reflected on the UN official website (see pages 1 and 94):
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/11th-uncsgn-docs/E_Conf.105_13_CRP.13_15_UNGEGN WG Country Names Document.pdf
and as formally documented by the International Standardization Organization according to ISO 639-1 and 639-2:
https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php.
3) The Agreement explicitly states that the official language of the neighbour belongs to the group of South Slavic languages, "it is not related to the ancient Greek culture" of Macedonia and "it is not related to [...] the history, the culture and the heritage" of Macedonia (Article 7 (4)).
4) Also, under the Agreement, Greek citizens reserve the right to continue to refer to the above language under the terms they currently use (Article 7 (5)).
Trademarks
1) The Prespa Agreement does not affect the validity of Greek trademarks under the name “Macedonia”. In particular, its trademark provisions are fully compatible with the European acquis, on the other hand, with international law, and in particular with the Madrid Commercial Property Agreement. This means that trademarks that have been registered by Greek companies at national, European or international level and contain references to Macedonia are completely protected.
2) The status of the neighbouring country as a future candidate for EU membership implies its obligation to conform to the European acquis. Products of Designation of Origin (PDO), as well as Geographical Indication Products (PGIs) with reference to Macedonia, are already identified by the existing EU regulations and refer exclusively to Macedonia. Macedonian Wine, for example, has been safeguarded in an EU regulation. By their very nature, geographical definitions refer to specific regions, not to entire states. The fact that the agreement contains an explicit reference to the operation of an international group of experts within the EU framework, guarantees the interests of the enterprises of our country as a member state.
3) The agreement creates conditions for dialogue between the two business communities of the two countries who will in good faith find a way out of and solutions to other issues that may be related to brands and corporate logos in the future. In any case, what is enshrined in European and national law is given and does not change.
How is Greece guaranteed if another government chooses to withdraw from the Prespa Agreement?
1) The Agreement clearly states: "the provisions of the Agreement are irrevocable" and "no alterations are permitted" (Article 20) to its substantive substantive and procedural provisions (Article 1 (3), (4)). Also, the Agreement itself explicitly states in Article 1 (1) that it is final, whereas in paragraph (2) of that Article, the parties recognize as binding the outcome of the negotiations under the aegis of the UN.
2) At the same time, the incorporation of the Agreements into the Constitution of FYROM was sought and achieved so that, by changing the constitutional name of the neighbour and the constitutional amendments to the articles whose wording might conceal irredentism, any violation of the The Prespa Agreement also constitutes a breach of the neighbour's own Constitution. FYROM formally notified Greece (FMM Ministerial Statement to Foreign Ministers of Greece on 16/1/2019) that it has completed all its internal procedures "under its Constitution".
3) The country will be admitted to NATO exclusively under the name "Northern Macedonia" and the new terminologies and with a clear reference to the Prespa Agreement, which in this way goes back to the "acquis" of the Alliance itself. If it is established from the Greek side that the terms of the Agreement are not met, the accession process will not be completed by NATO. The Accession Protocol must, moreover, be signed by all Member States, and its ratification by all Allied countries is also required. Concerning the future accession negotiations of North Macedonia with the EU, Greece will be able to discontinue the process at each stage of the procedure if the criteria of the Agreement are not met.
(4) Finally, any breach of the Agreement would trigger for Greece the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in the Agreement (Article 19), which provides for a right of appeal to the UN Secretary-General and subsequently to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
What if the Prespa Agreement is not ratified by the Greek Parliament?
1) The dynamic already developed will be further strengthened and more and more states will recognize FYROM with their constitutional name, namely, "Republic of Macedonia". The citizens of the country will continue to travel with "Macedonian" passports entered under "citizenship" (in the EU without visas). The language will continue to be listed in the UN and ISO standards as "Macedonian" without the explicit commitment of the neighbour that it is a South Slavic language that is not related to Macedonia. The current things with respect to the epithet “Macedonian” will also continue.
2) The international community will place the responsibility for non-ratification on Greece, since FYROM has completed the ratification procedures provided for in the Agreement. The solution to the nomenclature is a commitment of both parties, resulting from Security Council Resolutions 817/1993 and 845/1993, and from our commitment to the 1995 Interim Accord. Greece for years has rightfully put the onus on the neighboring country, whose reluctance and bad faith prevented the negotiations. The change of attitude of FYROM has been registered by the international community.
3) Failure to ratify the Agreement will contribute to instability in the region. In addition, it will increase the risk of third-party influence with irredentist plans on the country's northern border.
What has been the national line adopted by previous governments?
The national position, as it has been publicly expressed for over 15 years, is for a composte name with a geographic definition for use in all situations (erga omnes).
In the programme statements of the Karamanlis government, Foreign Minister D. Bakoyannis on 30/09/2007 stated that "Greece seeks to find a mutually acceptable solution based on a composite name."
In the programmatic statements of the Samaras government, Ms. Avramopoulos emphasized on 7/7/2012: "Greece, demonstrating the necessary constructive spirit, has made a major compromise, accepting a composite name with a geographical definition and for use in all situations."
In the General Assembly of the UN on 27.9.2014 the Foreign Minister and Vice-President of the Samaras Government, Evangelos Venizelos noted: "Greece has taken very important steps to date and we expect the other side to do so. We propose a mutually acceptable composite name with a geographical definition before the word "Macedonia" for every use, erga omnes".
What is Greece gaining from the Prespa Agreement?
1) Our neighbouring country is to be called “North Macedonia” and the international recognition of FYROM with its constitutional name (by more than 130 countries) comes to an end. From now on, not only does the name of the country cease to be "Macedonia", but, in addition, all state institutions, public buildings and even private bodies, if they are funded by the State or established by law (Article 1 (3) (g) can not be called "Macedonian", without the additional definition of "North".
2) European prospects and stability are strengthened in the neighbouring country and so the risk is circumscribed of third-party influence with alien irredentist plans on the northern border of Greece.
3) Not only is a significant diplomatic chapter safeguarded so that other growing challenges faced by Greece can be addressed, but its role in the region is strengthened as a European pillar of peace and security, and the aggressive nationalism of other powers is weakened.
4) The role of Macedonia and Thrace is upgraded to a regional economic hub. Greece and FYROM, pending the Nomenclature, have a conventional framework of bilateral relations that is totally inadequate - the conventional framework of relations between Greece and the then Yugoslavia . There are no major agreements, such as the Agreement for the Protection of Investments and the Agreement for Protection against Double Taxation, and all the other modern financial agreements and road and rail transport agreements, the lack of which have implications for our investments in the neighbouring area, for our exports, for road, rail and energy interconnectivity, for the port of Thessaloniki and its natural economic hinterland.
5) For the first time, the neighbouring country recognizes that it is not related to the "ancient Greek civilisation, history, culture and legacy" of Macedonia (Article 7 (3), (4)). Furthermore, it is bound (article 8 (2), (3)) to dismantle the notorious programme of archaism (anything "mentioned in any way in ancient Greek history and culture that is an integral part of the historical or cultural heritage of Greece" in infrastructure / buildings / monuments ) and for the removal of the Sun of Vergina from all public places and its withdrawal from any public use. This process has already begun, with the already renamed Airport of the neighbouring country as well as the National Road to Skopje.
It is noted that, of course, there has never been any question of limiting the use of the term Macedonia as far as Greece is concerned, which maintains it in full (eg Macedonia Airport).
(6) FYROM amends the descriptive epithets of all state organizations and its public institutions / organizations, as well as those of private institutions / organizations / bodies subsidized by the State or constituted by law in order to tie in with the composite name "North Macedonia" and no longer "Macedonian".
7) The neighboring country is bound by the Agreement (Articles 4, 6) and by amendment to its Constitution (Articles 3 and 49) to eliminate any form of revisionism and irredentism (by public or private bodies), respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the political independence of Greece and the principle of non-interference in our internal affairs.
8) The creation of the Joint Interdisciplinary Committee of Experts on Historical, Archaeological and Educational Issues is also envisaged, which will also examine the textbooks, in order to eliminate, as specifically stated, the irrelevant references (eg maps of "Great Macedonia") the elimination of which we have been trying unsuccessfully to achieve for years).
9) It eliminates any, even indirect, possibility of claiming "rights" for a supposed minority in our country. Our neighboring country agrees that "nothing in its Constitution as it is today or will be modified in the future" will be a basis for intervention in Greece's internal affairs "including the protection of the status and the rights of any persons not citizens" Article 4 (3)). Its Constitution is modified in a way that assures support only to its citizens and to its Diaspora (and not to "the Macedonian people in the neighbouring countries", as it is referred to today).
Do we recognize the "Macedonian nation" or "Macedonian language" in the Prespa Agreement?
Nation / Nationality / Citizenship
1) The Agreement defines only the "citizenship" of the neighbour's citizens, which is the legal bond between the citizen and the state. Moreover, FYROM formally confirmed to Greece through the 16/1/2019 Memorandum of Understanding, which is legally binding on FYROM, that the use of the term "nationality" in the English version of the Prespa Agreement refers only to "citizenship" . Indeed, both Greece and FYROM in their official translations of the Agreement have attributed the English term "nationality" to the word «ιθαγένεια». Moreover, in all international texts (both conventional and non-contractual) the term "nationality" denotes nationality rather than national origin.
2) Today, and for more than 25 years, in the passports of Macedonian citizens, citizenship is defined by the word "Macedonian". In 2009, in FYROM, freedom from the scrutiny of its citizens' passports was granted as regards their entry to the Schengen area.
(3) From the entry into force of the Agreement, the indicator “citizen of Northern Macedonia” shall be added as the nationality to all travel documents to the term already in use.
4) The Prespa Agreement does not mention or regulate issues of ethnicity. Besides, the amendment to the FYROM Constitution states that "citizenship does not specify, nor does it predetermine the ethnicity of the citizens of the country". This is stated explicitly and is binding on FYROM and the verbal note sent by Skopje.
5) The Agreement, therefore, does not recognize a "Macedonian people" or a "Macedonian nation". Moreover, the agreement does not deny the right of Greek citizens to call the citizens of our neighbouring country using the terms they use today (Article 7).
Language
1) The Third United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names held in 1977 in Athens recognized "Macedonian" as an official language. Already, however, in his speech to Parliament in September 1959, then Foreign Minister E. Averoff stressed: "The Macedonian language spoken in Skopje is not spoken in Greek Macedonia, and it has both grammar and syntax."
2) The reference to a Macedonian language, "MK, MKD", has been used since 1994, with no asterisks, as reflected on the UN official website (see pages 1 and 94):
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/11th-uncsgn-docs/E_Conf.105_13_CRP.13_15_UNGEGN WG Country Names Document.pdf
and as formally documented by the International Standardization Organization according to ISO 639-1 and 639-2:
https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php.
3) The Agreement explicitly states that the official language of the neighbour belongs to the group of South Slavic languages, "it is not related to the ancient Greek culture" of Macedonia and "it is not related to [...] the history, the culture and the heritage" of Macedonia (Article 7 (4)).
4) Also, under the Agreement, Greek citizens reserve the right to continue to refer to the above language under the terms they currently use (Article 7 (5)).
Trademarks
1) The Prespa Agreement does not affect the validity of Greek trademarks under the name “Macedonia”. In particular, its trademark provisions are fully compatible with the European acquis, on the other hand, with international law, and in particular with the Madrid Commercial Property Agreement. This means that trademarks that have been registered by Greek companies at national, European or international level and contain references to Macedonia are completely protected.
2) The status of the neighbouring country as a future candidate for EU membership implies its obligation to conform to the European acquis. Products of Designation of Origin (PDO), as well as Geographical Indication Products (PGIs) with reference to Macedonia, are already identified by the existing EU regulations and refer exclusively to Macedonia. Macedonian Wine, for example, has been safeguarded in an EU regulation. By their very nature, geographical definitions refer to specific regions, not to entire states. The fact that the agreement contains an explicit reference to the operation of an international group of experts within the EU framework, guarantees the interests of the enterprises of our country as a member state.
3) The agreement creates conditions for dialogue between the two business communities of the two countries who will in good faith find a way out of and solutions to other issues that may be related to brands and corporate logos in the future. In any case, what is enshrined in European and national law is given and does not change.
How is Greece guaranteed if another government chooses to withdraw from the Prespa Agreement?
1) The Agreement clearly states: "the provisions of the Agreement are irrevocable" and "no alterations are permitted" (Article 20) to its substantive substantive and procedural provisions (Article 1 (3), (4)). Also, the Agreement itself explicitly states in Article 1 (1) that it is final, whereas in paragraph (2) of that Article, the parties recognize as binding the outcome of the negotiations under the aegis of the UN.
2) At the same time, the incorporation of the Agreements into the Constitution of FYROM was sought and achieved so that, by changing the constitutional name of the neighbour and the constitutional amendments to the articles whose wording might conceal irredentism, any violation of the The Prespa Agreement also constitutes a breach of the neighbour's own Constitution. FYROM formally notified Greece (FMM Ministerial Statement to Foreign Ministers of Greece on 16/1/2019) that it has completed all its internal procedures "under its Constitution".
3) The country will be admitted to NATO exclusively under the name "Northern Macedonia" and the new terminologies and with a clear reference to the Prespa Agreement, which in this way goes back to the "acquis" of the Alliance itself. If it is established from the Greek side that the terms of the Agreement are not met, the accession process will not be completed by NATO. The Accession Protocol must, moreover, be signed by all Member States, and its ratification by all Allied countries is also required. Concerning the future accession negotiations of North Macedonia with the EU, Greece will be able to discontinue the process at each stage of the procedure if the criteria of the Agreement are not met.
(4) Finally, any breach of the Agreement would trigger for Greece the dispute settlement mechanism provided for in the Agreement (Article 19), which provides for a right of appeal to the UN Secretary-General and subsequently to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
What if the Prespa Agreement is not ratified by the Greek Parliament?
1) The dynamic already developed will be further strengthened and more and more states will recognize FYROM with their constitutional name, namely, "Republic of Macedonia". The citizens of the country will continue to travel with "Macedonian" passports entered under "citizenship" (in the EU without visas). The language will continue to be listed in the UN and ISO standards as "Macedonian" without the explicit commitment of the neighbour that it is a South Slavic language that is not related to Macedonia. The current things with respect to the epithet “Macedonian” will also continue.
2) The international community will place the responsibility for non-ratification on Greece, since FYROM has completed the ratification procedures provided for in the Agreement. The solution to the nomenclature is a commitment of both parties, resulting from Security Council Resolutions 817/1993 and 845/1993, and from our commitment to the 1995 Interim Accord. Greece for years has rightfully put the onus on the neighboring country, whose reluctance and bad faith prevented the negotiations. The change of attitude of FYROM has been registered by the international community.
3) Failure to ratify the Agreement will contribute to instability in the region. In addition, it will increase the risk of third-party influence with irredentist plans on the country's northern border.
SYRIZA wins Confidence Vote in Parliament
19.01.2019
Less than 48 hours after FYROM Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev succeeded in mustering the parliamentary support to push through the historical name-change accord in Skopje, one that will see the Balkan state being renamed the Republic of North Macedonia, Panos Kammenos, after holding talks with PM Tsipras on Sunday said his Independent Greeks party [AN-EL] was no longer able to support PM Alexis Tsipras’s Government, citing the Prespa Accord as the reason.
Alexis Tsipras responded by saying he would immediately seek a vote of confidence in his government. The vote opened with two days of debate on Tuesday and took place on Wednesday.
After ANEL's withdrawal from the government, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his intention to request a reaffirmation of the Parliament's vote of confidence on the basis of Article 84 of the Constitution.
“I have informed the President of the Parliament [of the vote] so that the Government can complete its term of office up to October 2019.” He added that he had had a “frank discussion” with Panos Kammenos, whom he thanked for his government partnership. “In critical moments everyone assumes his responsibilities … in the national interest I will not go back, I will not falter.”
Evangelos Apostolakis will take up the post of Minister of Defence.
"I will ask for the confidence of Parliament in order to move forward with these great interventions, which are indispensable for the country, which will give a breathing space of forward perspective to society, but will also upgrade the international role of the country. Each person must face up to their historical responsibilities."
"For four years I have had a sincere and sincere cooperation with Panos Kammenos. It is well known to all of us that we come from different political families and that all our differences have been known to us. Over these years we have achieved many things. We have extricated the country from the adventure of the Memoranda and have opened up the way for the fight against corruption in politics.
"I would like to thank Panos Kammenos for his irreplaceable contribution. I asked Panos Kammenos for clear solutions and clear conversations. I thank Panos Kammenos for answering this call. He has told me that he will resign from the position of the Minister of National Defence and that he will ask for the other ANEL executives to resign. I accepted his resignation and I will accept any other resignation put before me."
" The country as a pillar of stability and security - this for me is a national goal. In the face of the obvious national benefit and interest, I will not take fright nor will I calculate the political costs. The new Minister of Defence will be Mr. Apostolakis. There is not a moment to lose in consolidating the security and the continuity we have opened up."
"As I have pursued with clear conversations, so I will continue now. The Constitution gives me the power to leave it unclear whether I have the confidence of Parliament."
"We are facing very important challenges, the support of society. We have before us the increase in the minimum wage, the support of the weak, critical interventions in support of society. We have before us institutional interventions that must finally be completed with the Constitutional Review. We have the huge initiative for correcting the relations of the State and Church."
"The Constitution gives me the power [to avoid a vote of confidence Ed]. But I have never travelled with safety in mind and I have taken my decision. I have informed the President of Parliament and we will go immediately to renew the confidence in my Government - for the course of the Government to be completed in the face of great institutional changes."
Alexis Tsipras responded by saying he would immediately seek a vote of confidence in his government. The vote opened with two days of debate on Tuesday and took place on Wednesday.
After ANEL's withdrawal from the government, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his intention to request a reaffirmation of the Parliament's vote of confidence on the basis of Article 84 of the Constitution.
“I have informed the President of the Parliament [of the vote] so that the Government can complete its term of office up to October 2019.” He added that he had had a “frank discussion” with Panos Kammenos, whom he thanked for his government partnership. “In critical moments everyone assumes his responsibilities … in the national interest I will not go back, I will not falter.”
Evangelos Apostolakis will take up the post of Minister of Defence.
"I will ask for the confidence of Parliament in order to move forward with these great interventions, which are indispensable for the country, which will give a breathing space of forward perspective to society, but will also upgrade the international role of the country. Each person must face up to their historical responsibilities."
"For four years I have had a sincere and sincere cooperation with Panos Kammenos. It is well known to all of us that we come from different political families and that all our differences have been known to us. Over these years we have achieved many things. We have extricated the country from the adventure of the Memoranda and have opened up the way for the fight against corruption in politics.
"I would like to thank Panos Kammenos for his irreplaceable contribution. I asked Panos Kammenos for clear solutions and clear conversations. I thank Panos Kammenos for answering this call. He has told me that he will resign from the position of the Minister of National Defence and that he will ask for the other ANEL executives to resign. I accepted his resignation and I will accept any other resignation put before me."
" The country as a pillar of stability and security - this for me is a national goal. In the face of the obvious national benefit and interest, I will not take fright nor will I calculate the political costs. The new Minister of Defence will be Mr. Apostolakis. There is not a moment to lose in consolidating the security and the continuity we have opened up."
"As I have pursued with clear conversations, so I will continue now. The Constitution gives me the power to leave it unclear whether I have the confidence of Parliament."
"We are facing very important challenges, the support of society. We have before us the increase in the minimum wage, the support of the weak, critical interventions in support of society. We have before us institutional interventions that must finally be completed with the Constitutional Review. We have the huge initiative for correcting the relations of the State and Church."
"The Constitution gives me the power [to avoid a vote of confidence Ed]. But I have never travelled with safety in mind and I have taken my decision. I have informed the President of Parliament and we will go immediately to renew the confidence in my Government - for the course of the Government to be completed in the face of great institutional changes."
The Vote of Confidence Debate
On Wednesday evening, 151 MPs gave a vote of confidence to the Government following the Prime Minister's request for it to be reaffirmed in order to continue the political stability for it to be able to complete its work.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis crossed swords with furious rhetoric and shouting on a wide array of government policies from the economy to the Greece-FYROM Prespa Agreement, during the debate on the confidence vote.
PM Tsipras said he disagreed with but respected Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos’ withdrawal from the government, even as Mr. Mitsotakis claimed that SYRIZA and Kammenos’ party have effectively merged, as several AN-EL MPs declared that would support the Government in the two crucial votes that will determine whether the Government survives – the 16 January confidence vote and the subsequent vote to ratify the Prespa Agreement.
PM Tsipras stressed that he is the Prime Minister who has led the country out of the bailout memorandum era while attending to the needs of those in lower income brackets, who have been hit hardest by the decade-long crisis.
He also accused New Democracy of tolerating the attacks and death threats issued by ND officials and sent to MPs who planned to support the Government in the two votes.
He said photos of women with their heads crushed had been sent to Deputy Public Order Minister Katerina Papakosta and he demanded that Mitsotakis condemn these actions.
The PM said that New Democracy at first tolerated and then organised an operation to terrorise MPs.
“ Mr. Mitsotakis is burdened with a heavy responsibility for wanting to divide the people. In recent days particular colleagues [MPs] who want the Government to remain in power were targeted with threatening messages,” the PM said.
He fervently defended the Prespa Agreement which was negotiated by ex-foreign minister Kotzias, as being in the national interest, as it resolves a key foreign policy problem that has bedeviled the country for over a quarter century.
He said that the agreement is the second greatest accomplishment of his government, after shepherding the country out of the bailout era.
“With a sense of patriotic duty we have upgraded the country’s leadership role in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean in a difficult period characterised by great turbulence and major clashes,” he said.
He said he is certain that the bilateral agreement concluded with Skopje is right and patriotic.
“Patriotism means placing the national interest above partisan interests – pursuing the national interest and not changing views on crucial national issues of historical significance, based on fleeting partisan gain,” the PM declared.
“We want the Greece of progress in the face of this conservatism”
"I urge you to vote for trust in the Government that is fighting for us to return to the Greece of the many, not the few. Not the division and those born in velvet. We want the Greece of progress in the face of this conservatism." With these words, the Prime Minister asked for the vote of confidence of MPs to end the two-day debate.
"On the one hand there is the progressive country and SYRIZA and on the other the party of Mr. Voridis, Mr. Georgiades and Mr. Samaras.
Referring to the Prespa Agreement, Mr. Tsipras announced that he had received official notification by the neighbouring country and stated that "the term “nationality” does not prejudge the issue of the ethnicity of Northern Macedonia and the second point is that the neighbours’ language belongs to the Slavic family of languages as Parliament had been officially informed by the neighbouring country ". (Mr. Tsipras laid the respective documents before the Greek Parliament).
So, Mr. Tsipras concluded, "There is no connection with our own history, our own culture, our own tradition."
The Prime Minister finally assured the opposition that the Agreement will be discussed extensively and that it will be possible to think about it. Referring to Mr. Mitsotakis, he commented negatively on the high tones and the theatrical style he is adopting.
The Prime Minister argued that New Democracy is suffering from a lack of a political narrative because it is failing to adapt to the changes that reality brings.
"You are unable to adapt to reality and when reality changes so much the worse for reality," he said.
The targetting and practices of intimidation of MPs by the President of the official opposition party was mentioned by the Prime Minister complaining that "Mr. Mitsotakis did not find a single word to condemn Mr. Avramakos who yesterday sent messages by mobile phone to MPs intending to support the government ".
"The Greek people know," the Prime Minister said, adding "his [Mr.Avramakos’ Ed] best sponsor is Mr. Mitsotakis as long as he defends Samaras' government."
He finally mocked the head of the main opposition for the infamous attacks, saying:
"Unprecedented levels of political dialogue with threats, denunciations, insults and slogans, even about such people like Admiral Apostolakis who honour public life with their presence."
After the parliamentary process had been completed and his government had received the vote of confidence, Alexis Tsipras noted in a statement: "Today Parliament has voted in favour of stability. It has given a vote of confidence in the effort to regain the international credibility of the country."
It is a vote of confidence "in a Government that has already changed Greece and will continue until the completion of its constitutionally guaranteed mandate with a unique focus on the needs and interests of the Greek people, the needs and interests of Greece of the many."
On Wednesday evening, 151 MPs gave a vote of confidence to the Government following the Prime Minister's request for it to be reaffirmed in order to continue the political stability for it to be able to complete its work.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis crossed swords with furious rhetoric and shouting on a wide array of government policies from the economy to the Greece-FYROM Prespa Agreement, during the debate on the confidence vote.
PM Tsipras said he disagreed with but respected Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos’ withdrawal from the government, even as Mr. Mitsotakis claimed that SYRIZA and Kammenos’ party have effectively merged, as several AN-EL MPs declared that would support the Government in the two crucial votes that will determine whether the Government survives – the 16 January confidence vote and the subsequent vote to ratify the Prespa Agreement.
PM Tsipras stressed that he is the Prime Minister who has led the country out of the bailout memorandum era while attending to the needs of those in lower income brackets, who have been hit hardest by the decade-long crisis.
He also accused New Democracy of tolerating the attacks and death threats issued by ND officials and sent to MPs who planned to support the Government in the two votes.
He said photos of women with their heads crushed had been sent to Deputy Public Order Minister Katerina Papakosta and he demanded that Mitsotakis condemn these actions.
The PM said that New Democracy at first tolerated and then organised an operation to terrorise MPs.
“ Mr. Mitsotakis is burdened with a heavy responsibility for wanting to divide the people. In recent days particular colleagues [MPs] who want the Government to remain in power were targeted with threatening messages,” the PM said.
He fervently defended the Prespa Agreement which was negotiated by ex-foreign minister Kotzias, as being in the national interest, as it resolves a key foreign policy problem that has bedeviled the country for over a quarter century.
He said that the agreement is the second greatest accomplishment of his government, after shepherding the country out of the bailout era.
“With a sense of patriotic duty we have upgraded the country’s leadership role in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean in a difficult period characterised by great turbulence and major clashes,” he said.
He said he is certain that the bilateral agreement concluded with Skopje is right and patriotic.
“Patriotism means placing the national interest above partisan interests – pursuing the national interest and not changing views on crucial national issues of historical significance, based on fleeting partisan gain,” the PM declared.
“We want the Greece of progress in the face of this conservatism”
"I urge you to vote for trust in the Government that is fighting for us to return to the Greece of the many, not the few. Not the division and those born in velvet. We want the Greece of progress in the face of this conservatism." With these words, the Prime Minister asked for the vote of confidence of MPs to end the two-day debate.
"On the one hand there is the progressive country and SYRIZA and on the other the party of Mr. Voridis, Mr. Georgiades and Mr. Samaras.
Referring to the Prespa Agreement, Mr. Tsipras announced that he had received official notification by the neighbouring country and stated that "the term “nationality” does not prejudge the issue of the ethnicity of Northern Macedonia and the second point is that the neighbours’ language belongs to the Slavic family of languages as Parliament had been officially informed by the neighbouring country ". (Mr. Tsipras laid the respective documents before the Greek Parliament).
So, Mr. Tsipras concluded, "There is no connection with our own history, our own culture, our own tradition."
The Prime Minister finally assured the opposition that the Agreement will be discussed extensively and that it will be possible to think about it. Referring to Mr. Mitsotakis, he commented negatively on the high tones and the theatrical style he is adopting.
The Prime Minister argued that New Democracy is suffering from a lack of a political narrative because it is failing to adapt to the changes that reality brings.
"You are unable to adapt to reality and when reality changes so much the worse for reality," he said.
The targetting and practices of intimidation of MPs by the President of the official opposition party was mentioned by the Prime Minister complaining that "Mr. Mitsotakis did not find a single word to condemn Mr. Avramakos who yesterday sent messages by mobile phone to MPs intending to support the government ".
"The Greek people know," the Prime Minister said, adding "his [Mr.Avramakos’ Ed] best sponsor is Mr. Mitsotakis as long as he defends Samaras' government."
He finally mocked the head of the main opposition for the infamous attacks, saying:
"Unprecedented levels of political dialogue with threats, denunciations, insults and slogans, even about such people like Admiral Apostolakis who honour public life with their presence."
After the parliamentary process had been completed and his government had received the vote of confidence, Alexis Tsipras noted in a statement: "Today Parliament has voted in favour of stability. It has given a vote of confidence in the effort to regain the international credibility of the country."
It is a vote of confidence "in a Government that has already changed Greece and will continue until the completion of its constitutionally guaranteed mandate with a unique focus on the needs and interests of the Greek people, the needs and interests of Greece of the many."
Next … The Prespa Agreement
Former Prime Minister George Papandreou reiterated his support for the Prespes Accord, according to an interview which will be published in a Greek daily over the weekend.
“My opinion on the specific agreement is known, I stated it very clearly months ago and at the political council of the Movement for Change.”
“Our prime concern should be to avoid a division over a foreign policy issue - in this case the Macedonian issue. Difficult issues have been used in the past as a tool to promote party interests, with disastrous effects on the Greek people and the country. If we go to elections with in a climate of division and counter-accusations on who are patriots and who are sell-outs, it will be a disaster,” he added.
To Potami on Friday expressed its support in principle for a name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia without explicitly stating whether it will back the agreement when it comes to a vote in Greece's Parliament.
To Potami stressed that its overall positive view of the deal is tantamount to support “for Greece and not for bringing down [Alexis] Tsipras,” referring to the prime minister.
“There are those that are making Potami's positive stance to the Prespes Agreement appear as support for Mr Tsipras. They are making a big mistake... To Potami only supports the interests of the Greeks,” the party said on Friday.
“Our movement remains firm in the decision of its conference that the problem with FYROM must be resolved and Greece must play a leading role in opening the European path to the neighbouring country,” the party said in a statement after a meeting of its political council which was also attended by Potami's MEPs and other party bodies.
“When it comes to national issues, Potami doesn't form its position based on party interest, neither does it change its views depending on the ups and downs of any given time. We have stable principles, we don't have ideological obsessions and we don't act impulsively,” it added.
To Potami has five seats in the 300-seat House, leaving the government one vote short of an absolute majority. However, the Government appears confident of mustering at least one more vote from the independent bench or from other opposition parties.
Former Prime Minister George Papandreou reiterated his support for the Prespes Accord, according to an interview which will be published in a Greek daily over the weekend.
“My opinion on the specific agreement is known, I stated it very clearly months ago and at the political council of the Movement for Change.”
“Our prime concern should be to avoid a division over a foreign policy issue - in this case the Macedonian issue. Difficult issues have been used in the past as a tool to promote party interests, with disastrous effects on the Greek people and the country. If we go to elections with in a climate of division and counter-accusations on who are patriots and who are sell-outs, it will be a disaster,” he added.
To Potami on Friday expressed its support in principle for a name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia without explicitly stating whether it will back the agreement when it comes to a vote in Greece's Parliament.
To Potami stressed that its overall positive view of the deal is tantamount to support “for Greece and not for bringing down [Alexis] Tsipras,” referring to the prime minister.
“There are those that are making Potami's positive stance to the Prespes Agreement appear as support for Mr Tsipras. They are making a big mistake... To Potami only supports the interests of the Greeks,” the party said on Friday.
“Our movement remains firm in the decision of its conference that the problem with FYROM must be resolved and Greece must play a leading role in opening the European path to the neighbouring country,” the party said in a statement after a meeting of its political council which was also attended by Potami's MEPs and other party bodies.
“When it comes to national issues, Potami doesn't form its position based on party interest, neither does it change its views depending on the ups and downs of any given time. We have stable principles, we don't have ideological obsessions and we don't act impulsively,” it added.
To Potami has five seats in the 300-seat House, leaving the government one vote short of an absolute majority. However, the Government appears confident of mustering at least one more vote from the independent bench or from other opposition parties.
FYROM Parliament passes Prespa Amendments to Constitution
12.1.2019
With 81 votes in favour and none against, the FYROM parliament approved the four amendments to the Constitution and the accompanying implementation Law of the Constitution tabled by Zoran Zaev's government on the basis of the Prespa Agreement.
The four amendments adopted by the House concern the change of the name of the country (from the current “Republic of Macedonia” to the “Republic of Northern Macedonia”), the Preamble to the Constitution, the concern of the State for the country’s diaspora and the respect of the territorial integrity and national the sovereignty of FYROM’s neighbouring countries.
The 39 opposition MPs abstained from the vote.
NATO Secretary General G. Stoltenberg sent congratulations: "I congratulate Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on the final vote in parliament on the Prespa Agreement. NATO strongly supports the full implementation of the Agreement, which contributes significantly to a stable and prosperous region".
"Warm congratulations" on the outcome of the FYROM parliamentary vote on constitutional reform, were sent in a joint statement by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federico Mogherini and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Khan.
In the statement they characterized the approval of the name change as "an important step in implementing the historic Prespa agreement", noting that "political leaders and citizens have shown their determination to take advantage of this unique and historic opportunity for resolving one of the oldest conflicts in the region and moving decisively on the path of the European Union.
"The EU firmly supports this agreement, which is an example of reconciliation for the region and Europe as a whole. As we look forward to completing the next steps leading to the full implementation of the Prespa Agreement, the European Union remains firmly committed to continuing to fully support the country towards its common strategic goal of EU membership."
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said: "The adoption of the constitutional changes by the Skopje Parliament is a very encouraging and major step in the process of joining Northern Macedonia to the European Union. We hope it creates a positive conjuncture for the whole region. The EU will only be completed with the entry of all the countries of the Western Balkans."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras congratulated Mr Zaev by telephone on the successful completion of the revision process of the Macedonian Constitution, based on the Prespa Agreement.
"The Macedonian solution is one of my most important assets. If the first was the country's exit from the Memoranda, the second is the recovery of the country's role in the Balkans and, more generally, in the Eastern Mediterranean"said Alexis Tsipras, adding that the Agreement leaves no room for nationalism."
Speaking on OpenTV, he noted that "I believe that the Prespa Agreement is not a matter that has divided public opinion but is an unresolved problem for 27 years. It is a millstone on the foreign policy of the country."
At the same time, he spoke about the "non-existent issues of Macedonian language and ethnicity", which emerged from the opposition's need to view the agreement in the light of petty party interest."
"The only point of reference is the temporary petty-party benefit for Mr Mitsotakis," he said stressing that the leader of the Opposition turned nationality into ethnicity. "Something that does not exist".
"Because Mr Mitsotakis thinks he will lose some voters, the country will be discredited internationally. If I think this is in the interests of the country, let everyone take their responsibilities. "
In January, the Prespa Agreement will come to Parliament, the Prime Minister said, adding that shortly afterwards the ratification of NATO would come.
Referring to the elections, the PM reiterated that the Government would complete its four year term of office. "The elections will be on time. October is my goal."
"Mr. Mitsotakis does not want to go to elections without the Prespa Agreement having been voted on. He is anxious. He is electioneering in a populist way. Let him table a motion of no-confidence, I challenge him."
"I will proceed to early elections if I do not get a majority of 151 MPs."
The four amendments adopted by the House concern the change of the name of the country (from the current “Republic of Macedonia” to the “Republic of Northern Macedonia”), the Preamble to the Constitution, the concern of the State for the country’s diaspora and the respect of the territorial integrity and national the sovereignty of FYROM’s neighbouring countries.
The 39 opposition MPs abstained from the vote.
NATO Secretary General G. Stoltenberg sent congratulations: "I congratulate Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on the final vote in parliament on the Prespa Agreement. NATO strongly supports the full implementation of the Agreement, which contributes significantly to a stable and prosperous region".
"Warm congratulations" on the outcome of the FYROM parliamentary vote on constitutional reform, were sent in a joint statement by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federico Mogherini and the Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Khan.
In the statement they characterized the approval of the name change as "an important step in implementing the historic Prespa agreement", noting that "political leaders and citizens have shown their determination to take advantage of this unique and historic opportunity for resolving one of the oldest conflicts in the region and moving decisively on the path of the European Union.
"The EU firmly supports this agreement, which is an example of reconciliation for the region and Europe as a whole. As we look forward to completing the next steps leading to the full implementation of the Prespa Agreement, the European Union remains firmly committed to continuing to fully support the country towards its common strategic goal of EU membership."
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said: "The adoption of the constitutional changes by the Skopje Parliament is a very encouraging and major step in the process of joining Northern Macedonia to the European Union. We hope it creates a positive conjuncture for the whole region. The EU will only be completed with the entry of all the countries of the Western Balkans."
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras congratulated Mr Zaev by telephone on the successful completion of the revision process of the Macedonian Constitution, based on the Prespa Agreement.
"The Macedonian solution is one of my most important assets. If the first was the country's exit from the Memoranda, the second is the recovery of the country's role in the Balkans and, more generally, in the Eastern Mediterranean"said Alexis Tsipras, adding that the Agreement leaves no room for nationalism."
Speaking on OpenTV, he noted that "I believe that the Prespa Agreement is not a matter that has divided public opinion but is an unresolved problem for 27 years. It is a millstone on the foreign policy of the country."
At the same time, he spoke about the "non-existent issues of Macedonian language and ethnicity", which emerged from the opposition's need to view the agreement in the light of petty party interest."
"The only point of reference is the temporary petty-party benefit for Mr Mitsotakis," he said stressing that the leader of the Opposition turned nationality into ethnicity. "Something that does not exist".
"Because Mr Mitsotakis thinks he will lose some voters, the country will be discredited internationally. If I think this is in the interests of the country, let everyone take their responsibilities. "
In January, the Prespa Agreement will come to Parliament, the Prime Minister said, adding that shortly afterwards the ratification of NATO would come.
Referring to the elections, the PM reiterated that the Government would complete its four year term of office. "The elections will be on time. October is my goal."
"Mr. Mitsotakis does not want to go to elections without the Prespa Agreement having been voted on. He is anxious. He is electioneering in a populist way. Let him table a motion of no-confidence, I challenge him."
"I will proceed to early elections if I do not get a majority of 151 MPs."
IT'S GREEK YOGURT
The Ministry of Rural Development and Food is proceeding with its application for the registration of the name "Greek yogurt" in the PGI Register of the EU. in order to safeguard Greek yogurt as a product with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from counterfeit practices found in foreign markets and to strengthen the livestock industry and consequently the whole production and distribution chain,.
The project has been assigned to the Dairy Laboratory of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the Humanities of the Agricultural University of Athens and concerns all varieties of Greek yogurt from all varieties of Greek milk and exclusively from Greek raw materials.
The Ministry Statement said “The main goal of the product protection is to protect it from counterfeit attempts abroad to use the names “Greek yoghurt” or “Greek style yogurt” and to highlight the unique qualities [of the real thing Ed].
The Ministry of Rural Development and Food is proceeding with its application for the registration of the name "Greek yogurt" in the PGI Register of the EU. in order to safeguard Greek yogurt as a product with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from counterfeit practices found in foreign markets and to strengthen the livestock industry and consequently the whole production and distribution chain,.
The project has been assigned to the Dairy Laboratory of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the Humanities of the Agricultural University of Athens and concerns all varieties of Greek yogurt from all varieties of Greek milk and exclusively from Greek raw materials.
The Ministry Statement said “The main goal of the product protection is to protect it from counterfeit attempts abroad to use the names “Greek yoghurt” or “Greek style yogurt” and to highlight the unique qualities [of the real thing Ed].
PM Alexis Tsipras’
New Year Message
5.1.2019
"It is the first New Year that we can say that the struggles and the sacrifices of the Greek people have paid off. A new year is ahead of us," said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in his New Year's message, pointing out that the year that is coming in is "a year of hope, optimism, expectation and creativity".
"And it is logical, because it is the first year after eight years that our country is already outside the suffocating ring of the Memoranda. It is the first new year that we can say that the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek people have have paid off.
Because Greece has managed it. Contrary to the prophets of doom.
Because today, we are now in a position, without stewardship and commands from outside, to build our own future.
The future we deserve.
A future with people of work and creativity at the epicentre.
In 2019, the first year of being able to breathe and of freedom after so many years, we are again winning the battle of labour.
And we are moving ever faster to further reduce unemployment.
We have already won the battle to return to normality with 350,000 new jobs to date, but our goal remains to win the war.
The flight of young, capable, creative people abroad must be stopped.
Our homeland must become our homeland again, and not just a mother of her children.
That is why, in 2019, we are proceeding even more rapidly.
We are razing to the ground the work regime of the jungle, which was imposed in the years of the Memoranda.
We are fully restoring collective labour agreements.
We are abolishing the shameful sub-minimum wage for young people.
We are proceeding towards a generous increase in the minimum wage for all workers, without discrimination.
We are strengthening the social state, Health and Education.
We are strengthening the social state. First of all, Health and Education.
We are moving to the definitive protection of the primary residence by supporting borrowers so that they can repay their loans.
But we are also supporting the weaker sections who are without property, with rent allowances, so that they can access a decent roof over their heads.
2019, however, is also the year of the great and necessary institutional changes and reforms that for years nobody dared to take forward.
The Constitutional Revision will finally begin.
And it will give breathing room and space to democracy and civic participation.
It will give broader democratic rights to the people, and will take away privileges from the professionals of power.
Like the scandalous privilege of the Ministers' Responsibility Act, which entails immunity for those who are burdened by scandal and charges of misconduct.
The rationalization of Church and State relations will also proceed with the aim of strengthening the spiritual role of the Church, safeguarding the clergy in all respects, and at the same time safeguarding the role of the State as is appropriate in a modern and democratic state.
At the same time, however, 2019 will be the year of the great upgrading of the international prestige and the international role of Greece in the European and international spheres.
As a force for stability, peace and cooperation in a broadly destabilized region.
In this effort, an important step is the Prespa Accord, which will be ratified by the Greek Parliament, closing a barren 30-year cycle of inertia that has cost our homeland a great deal.
With the ratification of the Accord, Greece at last provides protection to the great cultural heritage and hellenicity of ancient Macedonia, while at the same time ensuring its leading role in the wider Balkan region.
Dear men and women compatriots,
2019 will be the year of the rebirth of our homeland.
And with your own stamp, this rebirth will be definitive.
Greece will move forward.
It will not go back to the dark days of the Memoranda and austerity.
With confidence and optimism,
With struggle and determination
We will definitively close off the road to those who want the restoration of the barons' sovereignty of vested interests and corruption.
I wish from my heart, for 2019 to be the year of courage, optimism and great recovery for our homeland.
And it will be.
Many Happy Returns and Happy New Year to all Greek women and men."
"And it is logical, because it is the first year after eight years that our country is already outside the suffocating ring of the Memoranda. It is the first new year that we can say that the struggles and sacrifices of the Greek people have have paid off.
Because Greece has managed it. Contrary to the prophets of doom.
Because today, we are now in a position, without stewardship and commands from outside, to build our own future.
The future we deserve.
A future with people of work and creativity at the epicentre.
In 2019, the first year of being able to breathe and of freedom after so many years, we are again winning the battle of labour.
And we are moving ever faster to further reduce unemployment.
We have already won the battle to return to normality with 350,000 new jobs to date, but our goal remains to win the war.
The flight of young, capable, creative people abroad must be stopped.
Our homeland must become our homeland again, and not just a mother of her children.
That is why, in 2019, we are proceeding even more rapidly.
We are razing to the ground the work regime of the jungle, which was imposed in the years of the Memoranda.
We are fully restoring collective labour agreements.
We are abolishing the shameful sub-minimum wage for young people.
We are proceeding towards a generous increase in the minimum wage for all workers, without discrimination.
We are strengthening the social state, Health and Education.
We are strengthening the social state. First of all, Health and Education.
We are moving to the definitive protection of the primary residence by supporting borrowers so that they can repay their loans.
But we are also supporting the weaker sections who are without property, with rent allowances, so that they can access a decent roof over their heads.
2019, however, is also the year of the great and necessary institutional changes and reforms that for years nobody dared to take forward.
The Constitutional Revision will finally begin.
And it will give breathing room and space to democracy and civic participation.
It will give broader democratic rights to the people, and will take away privileges from the professionals of power.
Like the scandalous privilege of the Ministers' Responsibility Act, which entails immunity for those who are burdened by scandal and charges of misconduct.
The rationalization of Church and State relations will also proceed with the aim of strengthening the spiritual role of the Church, safeguarding the clergy in all respects, and at the same time safeguarding the role of the State as is appropriate in a modern and democratic state.
At the same time, however, 2019 will be the year of the great upgrading of the international prestige and the international role of Greece in the European and international spheres.
As a force for stability, peace and cooperation in a broadly destabilized region.
In this effort, an important step is the Prespa Accord, which will be ratified by the Greek Parliament, closing a barren 30-year cycle of inertia that has cost our homeland a great deal.
With the ratification of the Accord, Greece at last provides protection to the great cultural heritage and hellenicity of ancient Macedonia, while at the same time ensuring its leading role in the wider Balkan region.
Dear men and women compatriots,
2019 will be the year of the rebirth of our homeland.
And with your own stamp, this rebirth will be definitive.
Greece will move forward.
It will not go back to the dark days of the Memoranda and austerity.
With confidence and optimism,
With struggle and determination
We will definitively close off the road to those who want the restoration of the barons' sovereignty of vested interests and corruption.
I wish from my heart, for 2019 to be the year of courage, optimism and great recovery for our homeland.
And it will be.
Many Happy Returns and Happy New Year to all Greek women and men."
On New Year's Eve, Η Αυγή published this article by Kostas Douzinas, SYRIZA MP for Piraeus A' and Professor at the University of London.
Counting the days to B-Day
Although the Brexit episode is unique, we find all the elements of it in the rest of Europe. Britain is showing us the future if the European elites continue, like Nero, to recite poetry while Rome burns.
The chaos, as dense as the fog of London, which is covering Britain's political life is a symptom of a time in Europe, characterized by a lack of vision, unworthy politicians, the destruction of the peoples' expectations. The laughter that covered May's speech in the British Parliament, when she announced that she was postponing the vote about Brexit because she would lose it, is symbolic of a poorly acted theatrical work that is nearing its end. An end that no one knows, not even its own authors. The endgame of Brexit has elements of farce, starring a number of second-class clowns like Farage, Boris Johnson, or the Brexiters’ leader, Rees-Mogg, a character that comes straight out of a satire on the arrogant stupidity of the aristocracy.
But at the same time it is also a tragedy, as the lives of millions in Britain and Europe are being put at risk. In the middle, May, a mini-Thatcher, without the decisiveness, the strength or the handbags of the original, is driving a train that runs without brakes towards the cliff.
In less than ninety days, on B for Brexit day, the UK will leave the European Union. They said that in World War I the train schedules decided who would be the victor. Today, the clock is running relentlessly towards March 29. But will Britain leave Europe?
In a sense, it was never in Europe. "Mist on La Manche (English Channel for the British), Europe cut off," said the meteorologists. Since the invasion of the Romans in the first century AD and the Normans in the eleventh century, the “Mainland” is the great wound of British society. It cuts across it diagonally and splits in two all classes, parties, interests. In the 1970s and 1980s it split the Labour Party. Now it's the turn of the Conservatives to get to know the intense europhobia of the ruling class. They are people who grew up with the experiences or memories of the empire and do not accept being members of a “club” that they do not run. It makes it worse that it is run by their greatest enemies who they defeated in two wars. Brexit has within it the whole history of the 20th century as well as also the traumatic end of the Empire.
But will Brexit happen? This still remains the most likely outcome. But not because the majority wants it either in Parliament or among the people. If it does happen, it will be the result of the complete failure of the political class. May’s agreement will not get through Parliament when it comes before it in mid-January. And as the clock runs toward B-day, it's not certain there will be time to apply the brake to the train.
There are three possible scenarios. 1.The United Kingdom leaves with a "managed No Deal". This will prevent the creation of chaos in air and sea travel, in the importation of medical supplies, personal data protection, etc. 2. As B-day approaches, politicians will panic and accept the May deal or something similar. 3.The general paralysis and the lack of a majority for any version will force May to ask for a postponement of B-day. Then we will have either an election or a second referendum. However, Corbyn's victory is not certain. The fact that he remains a spectator at the moment waiting for the break up of his opponents before he makes his move, as well as his statement that he supports Brexit, has disappointed many of the supporters of Remain. The first scenario is slightly more likely at the moment.
In the last three months, when it became clear that the negotiations could fail, the demand for a "second vote", a new referendum, became deafening. Corbyn, a child of Tony Benn and the radical left of the 1970s, believes that the capitalist Union will not allow leftist governments to pursue an independent industrial policy. It is the belief of a left-wing Euro-scepticism, which still believes that socialism can be built in one country, by a powerful movement and with the help of the trade unions. But there is also pragmatism in the decision. The popular preference for Brexit has not been radically overturned. As he told us recently, to win the election, he must take fifty seats that all voted Brexit, from the Conservatives. But the chief characteristic of Corbyn is his belief in democracy.
As long as the Executive, the MPs and the members decide in favour of Remain, Corbyn will follow in spite of his misgivings.
Brexit, the end of the social contract
Brexit was a result of economic distress and cultural alienation. When Europe was still social democratic, it put up some barriers to the capitalist extremes of Thatcher and Blair. Since the 1990s, the European elites have adopted the most extreme neo-liberal prescriptions. When jobs departed en masse, leading to systemic unemployment, when wages and job protection were destroyed in the name of competitiveness, justifiably, popular dissatisfaction turned against the EU. Between 2009 and 2014 the economy grew by 10%, but real wages declined by 6%. The referendum gave the opportunity to traditional Labour voters and those left behind by globalization to vote against the political castes. 64% of the poorest strata voted Brexit. The majority of those voting for Brexit are victims of capitalist globalisation.
For many, certainly, immigration was also important. In globalized capitalism, while capital is freely circulating, there are constantly restrictions on the movement of people. But the rationale of xenophobia is political, not economic. Economic migrants are useful demographicly and keep wages low. Thus, industry associations have supported them. Blair allowed Eastern Europeans to come to Britain without restrictions and, of course, Merkel invited refugees. In order to turn the legitimate concern of workers about jobs and dignity into racism, a political intervention is required. That's what Brexit's rightwing propagandists did. Xenophobia is the last prop of the Right, which has ruined with its policies those who, supposedly, its supports with its rhetoric.
But behind everything lies the violations of popular confidence by the elites: the lies that led to the war in Iraq, the failure of the occupation, the financial collapse of 2008, which led to a huge recapitalization of the banks at the same time as citizens lost their homes and their businesses. It was the final failure of the post-war social contract and the transition from a traditional paternalistic capitalism that believed in the public interest to a narrow-minded caste that believes only in the market.
Although the episode of Brexit is unique, we find all of its elements in the rest of Europe. Brexit was a pre-announced divorce. But Britain is showing us the future if European elites continue like Nero to recite poetry while Rome burns. The diminution of the Union is a result of the diminution of minds. From the [Movement of the]Squares and the Indignados to the "Yellow Vests", the peoples learned to revolt. This is our great hope.
Counting the days to B-Day
Although the Brexit episode is unique, we find all the elements of it in the rest of Europe. Britain is showing us the future if the European elites continue, like Nero, to recite poetry while Rome burns.
The chaos, as dense as the fog of London, which is covering Britain's political life is a symptom of a time in Europe, characterized by a lack of vision, unworthy politicians, the destruction of the peoples' expectations. The laughter that covered May's speech in the British Parliament, when she announced that she was postponing the vote about Brexit because she would lose it, is symbolic of a poorly acted theatrical work that is nearing its end. An end that no one knows, not even its own authors. The endgame of Brexit has elements of farce, starring a number of second-class clowns like Farage, Boris Johnson, or the Brexiters’ leader, Rees-Mogg, a character that comes straight out of a satire on the arrogant stupidity of the aristocracy.
But at the same time it is also a tragedy, as the lives of millions in Britain and Europe are being put at risk. In the middle, May, a mini-Thatcher, without the decisiveness, the strength or the handbags of the original, is driving a train that runs without brakes towards the cliff.
In less than ninety days, on B for Brexit day, the UK will leave the European Union. They said that in World War I the train schedules decided who would be the victor. Today, the clock is running relentlessly towards March 29. But will Britain leave Europe?
In a sense, it was never in Europe. "Mist on La Manche (English Channel for the British), Europe cut off," said the meteorologists. Since the invasion of the Romans in the first century AD and the Normans in the eleventh century, the “Mainland” is the great wound of British society. It cuts across it diagonally and splits in two all classes, parties, interests. In the 1970s and 1980s it split the Labour Party. Now it's the turn of the Conservatives to get to know the intense europhobia of the ruling class. They are people who grew up with the experiences or memories of the empire and do not accept being members of a “club” that they do not run. It makes it worse that it is run by their greatest enemies who they defeated in two wars. Brexit has within it the whole history of the 20th century as well as also the traumatic end of the Empire.
But will Brexit happen? This still remains the most likely outcome. But not because the majority wants it either in Parliament or among the people. If it does happen, it will be the result of the complete failure of the political class. May’s agreement will not get through Parliament when it comes before it in mid-January. And as the clock runs toward B-day, it's not certain there will be time to apply the brake to the train.
There are three possible scenarios. 1.The United Kingdom leaves with a "managed No Deal". This will prevent the creation of chaos in air and sea travel, in the importation of medical supplies, personal data protection, etc. 2. As B-day approaches, politicians will panic and accept the May deal or something similar. 3.The general paralysis and the lack of a majority for any version will force May to ask for a postponement of B-day. Then we will have either an election or a second referendum. However, Corbyn's victory is not certain. The fact that he remains a spectator at the moment waiting for the break up of his opponents before he makes his move, as well as his statement that he supports Brexit, has disappointed many of the supporters of Remain. The first scenario is slightly more likely at the moment.
In the last three months, when it became clear that the negotiations could fail, the demand for a "second vote", a new referendum, became deafening. Corbyn, a child of Tony Benn and the radical left of the 1970s, believes that the capitalist Union will not allow leftist governments to pursue an independent industrial policy. It is the belief of a left-wing Euro-scepticism, which still believes that socialism can be built in one country, by a powerful movement and with the help of the trade unions. But there is also pragmatism in the decision. The popular preference for Brexit has not been radically overturned. As he told us recently, to win the election, he must take fifty seats that all voted Brexit, from the Conservatives. But the chief characteristic of Corbyn is his belief in democracy.
As long as the Executive, the MPs and the members decide in favour of Remain, Corbyn will follow in spite of his misgivings.
Brexit, the end of the social contract
Brexit was a result of economic distress and cultural alienation. When Europe was still social democratic, it put up some barriers to the capitalist extremes of Thatcher and Blair. Since the 1990s, the European elites have adopted the most extreme neo-liberal prescriptions. When jobs departed en masse, leading to systemic unemployment, when wages and job protection were destroyed in the name of competitiveness, justifiably, popular dissatisfaction turned against the EU. Between 2009 and 2014 the economy grew by 10%, but real wages declined by 6%. The referendum gave the opportunity to traditional Labour voters and those left behind by globalization to vote against the political castes. 64% of the poorest strata voted Brexit. The majority of those voting for Brexit are victims of capitalist globalisation.
For many, certainly, immigration was also important. In globalized capitalism, while capital is freely circulating, there are constantly restrictions on the movement of people. But the rationale of xenophobia is political, not economic. Economic migrants are useful demographicly and keep wages low. Thus, industry associations have supported them. Blair allowed Eastern Europeans to come to Britain without restrictions and, of course, Merkel invited refugees. In order to turn the legitimate concern of workers about jobs and dignity into racism, a political intervention is required. That's what Brexit's rightwing propagandists did. Xenophobia is the last prop of the Right, which has ruined with its policies those who, supposedly, its supports with its rhetoric.
But behind everything lies the violations of popular confidence by the elites: the lies that led to the war in Iraq, the failure of the occupation, the financial collapse of 2008, which led to a huge recapitalization of the banks at the same time as citizens lost their homes and their businesses. It was the final failure of the post-war social contract and the transition from a traditional paternalistic capitalism that believed in the public interest to a narrow-minded caste that believes only in the market.
Although the episode of Brexit is unique, we find all of its elements in the rest of Europe. Brexit was a pre-announced divorce. But Britain is showing us the future if European elites continue like Nero to recite poetry while Rome burns. The diminution of the Union is a result of the diminution of minds. From the [Movement of the]Squares and the Indignados to the "Yellow Vests", the peoples learned to revolt. This is our great hope.
Greece facing demographic challenge
Greece’s population has declined by 360,000 in the last seven years and is projected to drop by a further 770,000 people over the next 12 years if birthrates remain at today’s levels, according to recent data collected by experts at the National Centre of Social Research (EKKE) and a special parliamentary committee on demographics and social affairs.
Greece’s population could plummet by up to 50% in 35-50 years if nothing is done to tackle the low birthrate, the aging population and the brain drain sparked by the emigration of young people to foreign lands in search of a viable career.
As a result, Greece’s workforce will shrink even further and analysts fear this will have a devastating impact on the economy and the country’s already severely burdened social insurance system.
Greece’s population has declined by 360,000 in the last seven years and is projected to drop by a further 770,000 people over the next 12 years if birthrates remain at today’s levels, according to recent data collected by experts at the National Centre of Social Research (EKKE) and a special parliamentary committee on demographics and social affairs.
Greece’s population could plummet by up to 50% in 35-50 years if nothing is done to tackle the low birthrate, the aging population and the brain drain sparked by the emigration of young people to foreign lands in search of a viable career.
As a result, Greece’s workforce will shrink even further and analysts fear this will have a devastating impact on the economy and the country’s already severely burdened social insurance system.