ekathimerini The Greek letter : Eastern Mediterranean remains the focus of Greek diplomacy

 

Eastern Mediterranean remains the focus of Greek diplomacy[ΑP] Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor Welcome to the weekly news round-up by Kathimerini English Edition. As Israel continues its air strikes against Gaza, ahead of a potential ground invasion, the Greek government continued to focus its diplomatic efforts on its immediate neighborhood of the Eastern Mediterranean. On Monday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travelled to Israel to meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. From Jerusalem, the prime minister reiterated that Greece supports Israel’s right to self-defense but noted the importance of protecting civilians during military operations. “I come here not only as an ally, but as a true friend,” said Mitsotakis. The prime minister also communicated with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas over the phone on Thursday, with Mitsotakis stressing that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and that the Authority is their only legitimate leadership. Finally, on Friday, during the United Nations General Assembly vote that adopted the resolution calling for the “Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations” in the violence in Gaza, Greece voted to abstain. Diplomatic sources noted to Kathimerini that this was done to ensure that Greece maintains a balance in its approach to the current crisis, stating that a vote to abstain within the framework of the UN is in no way a vote against a motion. The same sources stressed that Greece voted with the majority of European Union countries (15). At the same time, Greece is working to provide a humanitarian corridor while also proving to be a key ally in US planning in the Eastern Mediterranean. Aside from the Naval Support Base in Souda Bay on Crete, the US Air Force has transferred a large number of transport planes to two airports in Greece, primarily on Crete, to be prepared for a potential evacuation of an estimated 600,000 American citizens from Israel and Lebanon. Spotlight The situation within main opposition party SYRIZA continues to deteriorate as unity remains an elusive dream for the party’s cadres. Late on Monday night, new leader Stefanos Kasselakis announced that he was moving to expel three senior party members. Amidst the furor that followed, there was a joint announcement by Effie Achtsioglou (the runner-up in the leadership election) and two other leading SYRIZA members calling for a meeting of the political secretariat, warning that “the party is disintegrating”. The tense situation led to an emergency meeting of the party’s executive bureau on Thursday. Overall, the situation seems to have seriously harmed SYRIZA’s popularity as two polls published this week illustrate a marked decline in voter intent.   Amidst disagreements between Greece and Turkey on the conflict in Gaza, there are signs that efforts to resolve bilateral disagreements are still going strong. The two countries are reportedly close to agreeing on a framework that will institutionalize a solution to the issue of migration. Ongoing talks on the issue are set to conclude on December 7, the date of the planned Summit Council between the two countries. The goal of discussions is the establishment of a memorandum of understanding, with points being covered including the placement of a Hellenic Coast Guard officer in Izmir and a Turkish Coast Guard officer on Lesvos. The two sides are also discussing the possibility of a “visa facilitation” scheme that will allow for easier travel by Turkish citizens to islands in the eastern Aegean.

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OPINION Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition John Sarbanes leaving Congress[AMNA] The United States Congress, the Greek American community, as well as Greece and Cyprus, will miss John Sarbanes who, a few days ago, announced his intention not to seek re-election in 2024. Throughout his career, Sarbanes was a reliable and steady voice of reason in support of Hellenic issues and someone Athens and Nicosia could count on for advice and assistance on important legislative actions. The mild-mannered congressman, who was widely respected across the aisle, knew how to be effective without being loud. A true public servant, he honored the legacy of his late father, Senator Paul Sarbanes, who, it is fair to say, was the most influential Greek American in US political history. A member of the US House of Representatives for the last 17 years, Sarbanes has seen the level of public discourse deteriorate and American democracy be tested in ways unimaginable a few years ago. And that probably took a toll. Hellenism, both in the US and in the homelands, owes him gratitude for his sincere efforts and effective presence in the US Congress for almost two decades. His decision to leave elected office does not mean he will disappear from public view as it is certain that he will remain active and contribute in other ways.

CHART OF THE WEEK

The vast majority of tourist sector businesses (90%) are ready to increase salaries in an attempt to confront their difficulty in attracting employees, particularly in specialised roles. The majority of prospective employers indicated that hurdles to staffing their businesses include a lack of job experience and skills. Additionally, employers noted that one of the main issues is that 80% of qualified potential employees are not willing to accept the offered salaries. Finally, 82% of employers believe that they face an uphill battle in retaining talented staff.

ESCAPADE Moments in Time: A Walk Through the Old Castle of Ioannina The fortified old town of Ioannina has been continuously inhabited for centuries. Although it boasts some of the most iconic landmarks, it never became a tourist destination. Go to article >

ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL

“The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index saw a third consecutive week of gains, with the benchmark closing at 1,178.79 points. This marks a 0.33% increase from last week.”

“Italian banking giant UniCredit has submitted a proposal to buy a 9% stake in Alpha Bank, one of Greece’s four main credit institutions, owned by the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund. This is the first investment by a strategic partner in the Greek banking industry in 17 years and points to the prevalent positive economic outlook in the country.”

“Greece’s public debt in 2022 was calculated at 356.597 billion euros, 172.6% of the country’s gross domestic product of 206.62 billion euros, according to the latest report sent by the Hellenic Statistical Authority to the European Statistical agency this week.”

“The proposed power interconnector linking Greece to Egypt will be included in the European Union’s list of Projects of Mutual Interest according to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy. The plan foresees that the 950-kilometer-long cable will transfer green, ‘competitively priced’, energy to Europe.”

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA

01/11/2023Ban on public gatherings: The Hellenic Police have announced a ban on all public gatherings across Attica amidst concerns of rallies to be held by far right and neo-Nazi groups to mark the tenth anniversary of the killing of two Golden Dawn members. 02/11/2023Thessaloniki Film Festival: The 64th iteration of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece’s main celebration of film, will begin on Thursday. Attendees include Monica Bellucci who will be awarded the festival’s honorary Golden Alexander award. 03/11/2023PM to visit China: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will conduct an official visit to China where he will meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

Editor's PickFor Greece, there is a very real risk that the policy of opening to the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean through tripartite cooperation deals will suffer a serious blow.Vassilis NedosRead the article

PODCAST

27/10/2023 • 12:58Investment grade, UniCredit, and the Greek economic comebackAlex Patelis, the chief economic adviser to Greece’s Prime Minister, joins Thanos Davelis to discuss the significance of Standard and Poor’s decision to upgrade Greece to investment grade and UniCredit’s offer to buy Greece’s stake in Alpha Bank, while outlining the government’s next goals when it comes to the economy.

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