Oh how times change and how easily one can spot an opportunist! Just less than two years ago, the radical left SYRIZA party of only 4-7 percent followed an "anti-capitalistic" ideology, but today all this has changed because little Alexis saw an opportunity and grabbed it. On Tuesday, January 22, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras spoke at the Brookings Institute, about Greece and the economic challenges ahead. His speech focused on the economic and social prospects of Greece, its relationship with the rest of Europe, the reforms needed to address the crisis and what role the US can play in assisting Greece and Europe tackle these problems.
"Is there anything to fear by the left wing in Greece? In what way are we radical?,” visiting leader of the main opposition Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Alexis Tsipras asked an audience at Brookings Institution, Washington, on Tuesday. And he answered: “Scaremongers will tell you that our party, if it comes to government, will scrap the loan agreement with the European Union and the IMF, will lead the country out of the euro zone, will interrupt Greece’s ties with the civilized West, and that Greece will become a new North Korea."Tsipras’ speech was preceded by introductory remarks by Brookings Institution managing director William Antholis, while the discussion with questions from the audience was coordinated by Brookings’ economic analyst Domenico Lombardi. The event was attended by a number of ambassadors, including Greece’s Christos Panagopoulos and Cyprus’ Pavlos Anastasiadis, as well as by academics, analysts and journalists.
"When I was little,” Tsipras said, “I remember my elders telling me that if America grabs a cold, Greece will get ill with pneumonia. Today, I hear that some of your politicians warn the U.S. government to listen to them if you do not want to be...Greece. One thing is clear: our countries can be very different in size and structure. We also know that there are shadows and problems of the past that we want to overcome. But there are strong ties which in a globalized landscape are becoming stronger. Because our own destruction affects you as well."Presenting SYRIZA’s positions for the future, Tsipras stressed that his party wanted to establish a mutually beneficial dialogue with progressive thinkers in the U.S. "We have to prove that humanity has become wiser by the destruction that has been through." The state news agency quoted him as saying that SYRIZA has always been and will always remain a European party. “I hope to convince you that I'm not as dangerous as some are trying to say.., Let me say this clearly: SYRIZA will keep Greece in the euro zone.”
Editor's Note - An interesting radio show was broadcasted on Wednesday morning on RealFm about Tsipras' trip by George Trangas. It really deserves your attention... get ready for some really big laughs... and many truths! Here is the link http://www.real.gr/DefaultArthro.aspx?page=arthro&id=204948&catID=65
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