George Papandreou, is continuing with his global travels, and discussions about how the European economic crisis -which he ignited- but this time he is DIRECTLY provoking Greek sentiment and sticking his nose into Greek foreign affairs. According to reports, the former premier, and probably the most loathed man in Greece, addressed a conference in Costantinopole on Friday night titled the "GLOBAL RELATIONS FORUM" but he also (provocatively) met with Turkish Prime Minister T.Erdogan.
Reports in Athens said that during the meeting the two men exchanged views on international developments and the wider region around Greece, with a focus on Syria, the Middle East, Africa and especially Mali. Particular reference, add the same reports, was also made to developments in the EU and the European perspective of Turkey. The same reports said that Papandreou also discussed the preparation of the meeting of the Supreme Council of Cooperation between Greece and Turkey which is scheduled to be held in Turkey. The first such council was held in May 2010, in Athens, (under his premiership... surprise surprise). The council apparently examines the "potential for economic cooperation in areas of common interest".
And here is where the juice lies. What type of potential economic cooperation in areas of common interest can Greece have with Turkey? And why did Papandreou rush to discuss this with the premier of Turkey without having a formal role to do so?
Does this have anything to do with Greece's energy market, and the fact that Greece is getting ready to proclaim its EEZ? Well we here at HellasFrappe have been reading a lot of reports today about Papandreou's sudden meeting with Erdogan and we actually believe it does.
As for his speech at the conference, well judge for yourselves, it is Papandreou patting himself on the back again for apparently strengthening "Greek-Turkish relations during his run as Foreign Minister of Greece under the scandalous Simitis government.
"When I was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs, the conventional narrative was that there was no hope in Greek-Turkish relations. That was our fate to be enemies and there were very good reasons for this. But I decided not to follow the conventional way - because I believed deeply that there was another way. Because I believed that when you are given the opportunity to lead from a position of responsibility, you should not waste it. You should not hide behind the problem - but find solutions. Greek-Turkish relations were the problem. I thought we had to try to find common ground, common interests. I thought that we can create a win-win situation for both, rather than a game of "zero-sum" with winners and losers. I took the risk. And I was lucky that I found a hand and understanding from the other side of Ismael Cem, with whom we became real friends. "Obviously... everyone applauded.
And why wouldn't they? When you become a "Yes Man" and a here "Take it All" Minister of Foreign Affairs and sign shady agreements that want to claim territory and rights from your very own country (or the Helsinki Agreement), obviously you will be a success and a hero to the Turks. But what about the Greeks? After all, you were supposedly representing Greece right?
That is why we really need to analyze what Papandreou agreed to by placing his signature at the Helsinki EU summit on December 10-11, 1999. This might of convinced him that he was successful in strengthening Greek-Turkish relations, but there are dangers involved that were never disclosed to the Greek people. Correction... that were rather ignored by the Greek people.
Here goes: During the Helsinki EU Summit, and by "exchanging" a string "wishes" for the normalization of relations between both nations, from the side of Turkey, Greece apparently lifted its objections to Turkey's accession to the European Union. But there were repercussions almost immediately because Greece suddenly acknowledged, for the first time, "border disputes" with Turkey.
Of course anyone associated to the PASOK party, and especially fans of George Papandreou and the government of Simitis would beg to differ. But we will rely on the arguments made by the leader of the New Democracy party at the time -Costas Karamanlis- who raised some pretty good arguments about all of George's successes.
Besides giving his support for the eventual resolution of the problems between Greece and Turkey, Karamanlis pointed out the potential traps of the Helsinki Summit conclusions, of which were never explained to the Greek people (and never have been). Karamanlis believed that at the summit, Greece acted in a sign of goodwill in lifting the veto towards Turkey’s candidate status without getting any show of goodwill in exchange or any form of guaranteed assurance from the Turkish side.
Furthermore, as Karamanlis pointed out, this was a dangerous situation because past examples, such as the lifting of Greece’s veto in the EU-Turkey Customs Union (1995), had only resulted in an escalation of Greek-Turkish problems (such as the Imia Crisis which followed in January 1996).
He had said that at a close investigation, the text of the Presidency Conclusions did not force Turkey to actually resolve border conflicts with Greece by 2004 nor did it specifically say that Turkey was obliged to resolve this at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Rather, the text said that if Greece and Turkey did not resolve their border conflicts either through dialogue or though the ICJ by 2004, then the European Council would re-investigate the situation and take further decisions on the matter.
By making clear the interpretation of the text, Karamanlis wanted to let his fellow parliament members realize -and GREEKS EVERYWHERE- that the agreements reached in Helsinki between Papandreou and Chem were good as an idea, but provided no solid guarantees for resolving bilateral problems nor did they actually put any pressure on Turkey to revert from a possible aggressive policy towards Greece.
Karamanlis also noted that Greece had lost one of its most powerful foreign policy tools, the veto on Turkey’s EU candidate status, something which in the past exerted pressure on Ankara to improve bilateral relations in order to gain support for its EU application.
Also, Karamanlis had underlined that the results of the summit would for decades affect Greece's course in the European family vis-a-vis Turkey and noted that developments arising from the summit decision would especially benefit Turkey, as its road toward the EU was open and its participation was upgraded at important EU meetings regarding political cooperation and formulation of EU foreign policy.
He also said stipulation should have been made that Turkey must respect international treaties and international law, as well as abandoning its territorial claims against Greece and rejecting the use or threat to use violence, something that was not noted by Papandreou's side. (such as Greece's continental shelf)
Also, Karamanlis said that the final text of the summit refers to negotiations regarding national issues, which means a major turnabout in standing Greek positions and stressed that the single issue of difference with Turkey regards the delimitation of the continental self of the Aegean, saying however, that an endless list of claims on more than 150 islands in the eastern Aegean could now be decided by 15 foreign judges.
"This is a huge concession from what Greece had secured at the Luxembourg summit in 1997, and entails dangers," Karamanlis warned.
So there you have it folks... now you know the truth.
Now you know why the Turks love PASOK, and especially George Papandreou.
Once again... Karamanlis told us the truth... HE WARNED US... But was anyone listening?
No.
And after reading all of this, it really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why he met with Erdogan and what "common areas of interest" were discussed. Our question is simple: Who is this man representing? Does Papandreou still hold a seat at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we don't know it? Is he still the premier? For Christ's sake he is never even in the Greek parliament because he is so busy gallivanting across the globe pretending to be a "global thinker"! Who benefits from Papandreou's meeting with Erdogan? Wake up world... Are we being set up to witness another tragedy -and betrayal- in the making? Who knows... Stay tuned.
References
http://www.greekembassy.org/embassy/content/en/Article.aspx?office=9&folder=285&article=4485
http://www.greekembassy.org/embassy/content/en/Article.aspx?office=2&folder=278&article=3582
http://www.defencenet.gr/defence/item/%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%B1-%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8C
http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=494983
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