Upcoming Events

International | EU

no events match your query!

New Events

International

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Anti-Empire

Anti-Empire

offsite link This Site Will Soon Be Hosted at anti-em... Sun Sep 22, 2024 17:24 | Anti-Empire

offsite link Ukraine Shoots Down F-16 With Patriot, A... Sat Aug 31, 2024 11:53 | Anti-Empire

offsite link Surprise Offensive Puts 300 km² of Russ... Fri Aug 09, 2024 08:44 | Marko Marjanović

offsite link The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire

offsite link In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire

Anti-Empire >>

The Saker
A bird's eye view of the vineyard

offsite link Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb

offsite link The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog.  We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below). 

offsite link What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are

offsite link Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of

offsite link The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N°101 Mon Sep 30, 2024 05:29 | en

offsite link Voltaire, international news 2023 Sun Sep 29, 2024 15:20 | en

offsite link Is the proposed ceasefire in Lebanon US-French or Israeli? Fri Sep 27, 2024 15:36 | en

offsite link Cognitive warfare in the West, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Sep 24, 2024 06:56 | en

offsite link Russia arms Ansar Allah against Israel in response to U.S. arming of Ukraine Fri Sep 20, 2024 11:41 | en

Voltaire Network >>

EU deal with Greece/Betrayal of OXI

category international | eu | opinion/analysis author Thursday July 16, 2015 05:06author by Astrid Essed Report this post to the editors

With accepting the barbarous EU deal, Tsipras betrayed OXI

The die has been cast. The Geek prime minister Tsipras, who won the elections
because of his promise to make an end to Trojka austerity measures, has capitulated,
accepting the hardest EU deal with Greece ever. Shame on him and his party
Syriza, which has lost every credibility. It's a horrible betrayal of OXI, plunging
the Greek people in still worse misery. People of Greece, fight for Freedom!

EU DEAL WITH GREECE/CAPITULATION TSIPRAS/BETRAYAL OF OXI IDEAL

SEE ALSO

http://www.astridessed.nl/eu-deal-with-greececapitulati...deal/

Eleutheria ou Thanatos:
That was the slogan with which the Greek freedom fighters
liberated themselves from the Ottoman rule [1]
The same love for freedom [although that oppression was far more
barbarous] inspired the black slaves to fight against the monstrous
tyranny of their white masters. [2]

Less dramatic, but comparable in modern times, was the
choice of Greek prime minister Tsipras during his negociations
with the EU capitalists [the Europtop, ECB, EU countries] of
last week.
Capitulation or libeterty.
And unlike the brave Greek freedom fighters, Tsipras choose
for capitulation.

He let himself intimidated by the EU gangsters and has agreed with
even more strangling conditions then those because of which
the negociations were broken off at 28th of june. [3]
He issued a referendum against the 28 june EU proposals,
the Greek people voted ''OXI'' [4], making Tsipras uttering
the statement, that ''democracy cannot be blackmailed'' [5]

What a bitter joke:
A week later he himself was so ''blackmailed'', that he forgot
his ideals and the needs of the Greek people.
He surrendered to the worse EU loan condtions ever. [6]

With this treason, he and his Syriza party lost all credibility and
broke their election vows to the Greek people.
Was it not Tsipras, who promised to end ''austerity
pain? [7]
Well, he agreed with the most painful austerity plan
ever! [8]
And his beautiful words have blown in the wind.....

INTERNAL WEAKNESS OF SYRIZA IN EU NEGOCIATIONS

Syriza [Tsipras] started with fundamental weaknesses
in its negociating position with the EU:

The party didn't reject the Trojka [ECB,IMF,EU] austerity measures as such
but wanted a ''moderation'' at one side and simultaneously
staying friends with the EU creditors.
That didn't work, as 5 months negociations proved.
Because the hard EU austerity policy is also a question of power:
And of course, the mighty will not give away their power without
a fight.

Secondly, Syriza refused to consider breaking with the EU or the euro,
which weakened their negociation marge.
And instead of confronting the EU creditors after the Greek OXI,
and demanding loans which were fairly spreaded over poor
and rich and not only made the poor pay, he came with an austerity
plan of his own, which was approved by the Greek parliament with
little enthousiasm, while he shamelessly admitted, that he
broke his election vows. [9]

He remained begging for EU favours, not taking advantage
of the fact, that a possible Grexit was not in the interest of
the EU either [the domino effect on weak economies as
Spain, Ireland and Portugal, Greece under possible Russian or
Chinese economical influence, political unrest in Greece, which
could spread through Europe], but repeated his mantra, that
Greece would remain in the EU, whatever it costs.

''Well, the EU big shots said, ''pay the price'' and came with a deal,
which the Devil in Faust should not have improved them. [10]
Take into consideration, that the EU powers wanted to punish
Tsipras for his audacity to question the austerity policy. [11]

EU DIRTY DEAL WITH GREECE
”EXTENSIVE MENTAL WATERBOARDING”

So the EU deal with Greece is called [12] and I think they're right.

Not only this deal has been closed to put a blackmailing
knife on the throat
of Tsipras [Grexit or complete surrender]
But also to show who's boss:

Therefore the hard conditions, which imply neo colonialism
and bitter strangling of the Greek people.

For the neo colonialism part:
Relevant legislation [about banking and economic
business] must be showed to the Trojka [or financial institutions,
as this gangster group is called now], before even going to
parliament, which is, of course, a scandalous violation
of the Greek sovereignty:

Read with me
''“to fully normalize working methods with the Institutions [= de Trojka] (…) The government needs to consult and agree with the Institutions on all draft legislation in relevant areas with adequate time before submitting it for public consultation or to Parliament.” [13]

Regarding austerity measures:
Further cutting in the pensions, privatisations [demanded by the EU],
violation of social rights like the right to strike and better working
contracts. [14]

And that in a country, which already have been cutted heavily in pensions
and with very lows salaries!

HUMANITARIAN TRAGEDY IN GREECE

How was the humanitarian situation in Greece, before
this dirty EU deal of 12 july 2015?
Bad, bad, bad
With thanks to the EU austerity policy......

A grip:
Half of the population is living under the poverty rate,
one third is umemployed [two third of the younger
people], there is a lack of medicines and suicide rates
are high. [15]

And yet stricter austerity measures?
With which Tsipras agreed!

In an interview this man has the nerve to say, that adopting
the drachma ''would have devastating effects on Greece and particularly the poor.'' [16]

Of course Mr Tsipras, I almost forgot that now the Greek poor
are living in a welfare paradise!
Thanks to the Trojka and you as their accomplice.

Well, I wish you much success trying to sell
this deal of the Devil to the Greek people,
who believed your empty promises, Mr Tsipras!

GREXIT OR EU CAPITULATION?

We know the consequences of a Grexit [Greece to leave the
eurozone].
All ECB support to Greece stops and the banks will fall.
The banks can't go to the Greek government, which has no
money either.
No euro's anymore and the choice will be made for the drachma,
inflation, European products will be highly expensive.
Misery, misery, misery. [17]
But how the situation is now and in the future, under
EU domination?
Misery too and neo colonialism.

Besides, Grexit also has its dark sides for the EU:
I already mentioned the domino effect, and the EU fear,
that Greece will turn to Russia and China for financial
support and so under their influence.
So the EU also has something to lose and Tsipras,
with his obsession to stay in the euro, didn't even made use
of that.

If he had liberated the country of EU neo colonialism,
at least there was a proud population, taking their fate'
in their own hands and going their way, however hard,

And what now?
Further humiliation, poverty and the greatest danger of all:
That the neo nazi party the Golden Dawn will exploit the Greek
misery in its own interest, encouraging the feelings of
humiliation in a dangerous chauvinistic and racist direction.
Yanis Vafoukis, former Greek minister of finance, warned
strongly for this hugh danger. [18]

EPILOGUE

Tsipras has betrayed his ideals, election promises and the
poor Greek people. [19]
With his election victory, he promised a social and humane
Greece en undoubtedy with a good intention, but intentions
only are not enough in politics.
He knew from the beginning, that he had to deal with
hard neo liberal capitalistic EU politicians, gangsters, who
didn't care to plunge the Greek people further into misery, whenever
they could hold their economical power over Greece.

He did not fight fire with fire, but almost begged to stay in the EU/euro
and only wanted to limit the damage of austerity, not to question
austerity politics as such.

And when he played a good card, calling for a referendum, he didnot
take advantage of the Greek OXI, worse, he didn't keep his
promise, came with an austerity plan himself and eventually
let himself intimidated into the worst austerity plan ever.

The Greek have to fight with all measures, mass strikes,
mass protests and demonstration to prevent this EU Devil
deal will pass parliament.

And even when it passes, to ignore it and double the
struggle, even with arms, if necesaary.

That's the only way to establish a humane and social
Greece, with room for everyone, Greeks, refugees and
migrants.

A Grexit will be necessary, so be it.

Greek people, fight the EU criminals and Tsipras and co,
their accomplices.

For real freedom and equality.

Remember

ELEUTHERIA OU THANATOS!

Astrid Essed

NOTES

[1] WIKIPEDIA
ELEUTHERIA OU THANATOS
[Freedom or death, written here in Roman letters, not in Greek]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleftheria_i_thanatos

WIKIPEDIA
GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_War_of_Independence

[2] WIKIPEDIA
NAT TURNER’S SLAVE REBELLION

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Turner%27s_slave_rebe...llion

[3] EU DEAL WITH GREECE
EURO SUMMIT 12 JULY 2015

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_07_15euro...t.pdf

[4] ''"We ask you to reject it with all the might of your soul, with the greatest margin possible," he said on Monday.''

AL JAZEERA
GREEK PM MAKES PLEA TO VOTERS AS DEBT DEADLINE NEARS
30 JUNE 2015

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/greek-pm-urges-vo....html

THE GUARDIAN
GREEK REFERENDUM: NO CAMPAIGN STORMS TO VICTORY
WITH 61,31 % OF THE VOTE-AS IT HAPPENED

http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/jul/05/gr...-live

CRIMES AGAINST GREECE

THE GUARDIAN
GERMANY WON''T SPARE GREEK PAIN YANIS VAROUFAKIS/FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER
10 JULY 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/10/ge...rexit

[5] ''Today, he says, Greece has proved that democracy cannot be blackmailed; Greeks have made a brave choice, and one which will change the debate in Europe.''

THE GUARDIAN
TSIPRAS/DEMOCRACY CANNOT BE BLACKMAILED

http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/jul/05/gr...ba927

[6] THE WORSE EU LOAN CONDITIONS EVER

EURO SUMMIT
12 JULY 2015

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_07_15euro...t.pdf

[7] BBC NEWS
GREECE ELECTION - SYRIZA LEADER TSIPRAS VOWS TO END AUSTERITY ''PAIN''
26 JANUARY 2015

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30978052

[8] THE WORSE EU LOAN CONDITIONS EVER

EURO SUMMIT
12 JULY 2015

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_07_15euro...t.pdf

[9] Mr Tsipras said the bailout deal “entails many proposals that are far from our pledges”, but he added it was “marginally better” than the proposals put forward last month by creditors.”

BBC - GREECE DEBT CRISIS: MPs BACK BAILOUT REFORM PLAN
11 JULY 2015
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33491452

[10] WIKIPEDIA
FAUST

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faust

[11] THE GUARDIAN
GREEK CRISIS: SURRENDER FISCAL SOVEREIGNTY FOR BAILOUT, MERKEL TELLS TSIPRAS
12 JULY 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/12/greek-c...ipras

[12] THE GUARDIAN
TSIPRAS FACED ''MENTAL WATERBOARDING'' TO ACCEPT DEAL

http://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2015/jul/12/gr...1fc4b

[13] EURO SUMMIT
12 JULY 2015

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_07_15euro...t.pdf

ON THE EURO SUMMIT'S STATEMENT ON GREECE: FIRST THOUGHTS
YANIS VAROUFAKIS
14 JULY 2015

http://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2015/07/14/on-the-euro-summit...ghts/

[14] EURO SUMMIT
12 JULY 2015

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/13_07_15euro...t.pdf

ON THE EURO SUMMIT'S STATEMENT ON GREECE:
FIRST THOUGHTS
YANIS VAROUFAKIS
14 JULY 2015

http://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2015/07/14/on-the-euro-summit...ghts/

[15] THE NEW YORKER
WHAT AUSTERITY LOOKS LIKE INSIDE GREECE
31 MARCH 2015

http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/what-austeri...reece

THE GREEK REPORTER
6.3 MILLION GREEKS THREATENED BY POVERTY
25 SEPTEMBER 2014

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2014/09/25/6-3-million-...erty/

THE GUARDIAN
OXFAM WARNS ON EUROPEAN POVERTY AND
SAYS GREECE IS IN A ''TERRIBLE STATE''
12 SEPTEMBER 2013

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/12/europea...rning

[16] ''“I never had a plan B” the Greek prime minister said and added that adopting the Drachma would have devastating effects on Greece and particularly the poor.''

THE GREEK REPORTER
GREEK MP TSIPRAS INTERVIEW: ''A BAD DEALWAS MY ONLY OPTION TO SAVE GREECE''
14 JULY 2015

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/07/14/greek-pm-tsi...eece/

[17] BBC NEWS
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GREECE QUITS THE EURO? 18 FEBRUARY 2015

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31457991

[18] THE GUARDIAN
GOLDEN DAWN WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY MORE AUSTERITY, YANIS FAROUFAKIS WARNS, 14 JULY 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/14/golden-...warns

[19] THE INDEPENDENT IRELAND
NEW PROPOSALS SEEN AS BETRAYAL AS OXI VOTERS ASK: WHY DID WE FIGHT THEN 11 JULY 2015

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/new-proposals....html

author by fredpublication date Thu Jul 16, 2015 07:38author address author phone Report this post to the editors

it was an impossible situation for Tsipras and Varofakis:

http://www.tlaxcala-int.org/article.asp?reference=15218

The troika just played them for time pretending it was actually a negotiation, knowing greece were on the clock.
Then when the clock ran down the EU showed their true fascist colours, took advantage and made the terms worse even.

Fuck the EU. they are not our friends, or friends of the people of greece

author by Crazy Catpublication date Thu Jul 16, 2015 08:01author address author phone Report this post to the editors

An article from the New Statesman.

http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2015/07/yanis...reece

Here is part of it:

'

HL: What is the greatest problem with the general way the Eurogroup functions?

YV: [To exemplify…] There was a moment when the President of the Eurogroup decided to move against us and effectively shut us out, and made it known that Greece was essentially on its way out of the Eurozone. … There is a convention that communiqués must be unanimous, and the President can’t just convene a meeting of the Eurozone and exclude a member state. And he said, “Oh I’m sure I can do that.” So I asked for a legal opinion. It created a bit of a kerfuffle. For about 5-10 minutes the meeting stopped, clerks, officials were talking to one another, on their phone, and eventually some official, some legal expert addressed me, and said the following words, that “Well, the Eurogroup does not exist in law, there is no treaty which has convened this group.”

So what we have is a non-existent group that has the greatest power to determine the lives of Europeans. It’s not answerable to anyone, given it doesn’t exist in law; no minutes are kept; and it’s confidential. So no citizen ever knows what is said within. … These are decisions of almost life and death, and no member has to answer to anybody.

author by Mike Novackpublication date Thu Jul 16, 2015 14:13author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"I already mentioned the domino effect, and the EU fear, that Greece will turn to Russia and China for financial support and so under their influence. So the EU also has something to lose and Tsipras, with his obsession to stay in the euro, didn't even made use of that.."

We know about the public negotiations. But we don't know about possible behind the scenes ones. Why are you so sure that Tsipras didn't have people secretly talking with the Russians and Chinese? In his shoes, that's what I would have been doing. You seem so sure that there was a better deal on offer from somewhere else. I'm not so sure about that. Would it really be in either Russia's or China's interest to take sick sisters off United Europe's hands? Or does economic chaos in Europe suite them better.

I suspect that the EU (in framing it's awful offer) knew pretty much (or think they do)
a) How bad would it be for Greece trying to go it alone
b) How much or how little aid Greece could get form Russia, China, etc.

author by Crazy Catpublication date Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:31author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Jeez, have you seen what they signed :

from Yanis Varoufakis's blog:

http://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2015/07/15/the-euro-summit-ag...akis/

We also follow here with 'Greek Crisis'

http://www.greekcrisis.fr/2015/07/Fr0449.html#deb

author by Crazy Catpublication date Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:24author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Here is an excellent interview with Eric Toussaint, who took part in an audit of Greece's debt.

He explains why Greece capitulated, and how they should have acted had they really wanted to fight for positive results.

http://cadtm.org/Greece-Why-Capitulate

There are English subtitles.

 
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy