Geneva talks on Cyprus hailed as positive [Pierre Albouy/Reuters] | Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor |
Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. While there was no significant breakthrough in the informal talks held on the issue of Cyprus, all sides agreed to hold further discussions on resolving the division and occupation of the island as well as on a framework of confidence-building measures (including the opening of four new border crossings). The talks brought together Cypriot president Nicos Christodoulides, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, as well as representatives from the three signatories of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee; namely, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, and Minister of State of the United Kingdom for Europe and North America Stephen Doughty. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who invited the delegates to Geneva, stated that the discussions had been “constructive”, and noted that, following the lack of progress on the issue since the collapse of talks in 2017, these talks marked a shift with “substantial progress” achieved. Guterres also announced that he would be convening a further round of talks at the end of July, and that he would appoint a special envoy for Cyprus. “A first, important, positive step was made here in the direction of restarting talks. That is the big goal, we are not there yet”, said Christodoulides. Tatar said the talks had been positive, adding that “we are faced with two options either we continue the way we are with all the repercussions, or build the future of the island together”. “The only solution is the reunification of the island” emphasized Foreign Minister Gerapetritis, who reaffirmed Greece’s stance on the issue and the creation of a bizonal, bicommunal federal state as laid out by the United Nations Security Council. “There is no common ground for a final solution, but there is scope for cooperation”, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement. Delegates at the talks also held bilateral meetings, with President Christodoulides holding a 20-minute talk with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan following the dinner that opened proceedings. Gerapetritis also met with his Turkish counterpart. The two men discussed the ongoing talks, but also addressed international and regional developments, focusing on Ukraine and the Middle East, including Syria. The two men, who will meet again within a few weeks at the sidelines of the NATO summit in early April, also discussed the next meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan some time in April. On his return, Gerapetritis briefed parliamentary political leaders on the progress of the talks and the prospects of a solution for Cyprus. PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis expressed hope for a solution to the island’s division based on the parameters set out by the United Nations Security Council, with SYRIZA president Sokratis Famellos stressing the need to act decisively to capitalize on the gains of Geneva. Spotlight - The latest opinion polls indicate that all major parties (ruling New Democracy, main opposition PASOK, left-wing SYRIZA, the Greek Communist Party, and far right Greek Solution) are losing ground to the parties perceived to be more anti-establishment. The main beneficiary of this shift is Course for Freedom, the party of former Parliamentary Speaker Zoi Konstantopoulou, which is either polling second and level with main opposition PASOK or just below it. This shift must be of concern to both PASOK and SYRIZA, which continue to fail to resonate with the electorate and have failed to capitalize on the losses recorded by New Democracy. Less than six months from the victory of Nikos Androulakis in PASOK’s leadership election in October 2024, several party cadres are openly expressing their dissatisfaction, with some even suggesting it might be time for a change. For its part, ruling New Democracy continues to poll much higher than the other parties, despite losses that have the party polling at its lowest levels since 2019.
- Several Greek faculty members at Cambridge University, including Professors Ianthi Maria Tsimpli, Ioanna Sitaridou and Napoleon Katsos, are part of wider efforts to reestablish a Chair of Modern Greek Language and Culture at the world-famous institution. Currently, there are several ongoing initiatives to further the study of Modern Greek and to teach students who seek to engage with the language and culture of Greece, including optional language lessons and the creation of the Cambridge Centre for Greek Studies in 2018. However, there has not been an academic Chair since the retirement of Emeritus Professor of Modern Greek David Holton in 2013. To finance the position would require approximately 2.5 million pounds. “We are grateful for the donations we have already received from the foreign ministries of Greece and Cyprus”, says Sitaridou, noting however that “we need now the big donation, possibly from wealthy Greeks who will decide to ‘carry the load’ to promote our language and contemporary culture”. “Cambridge can once again become the center of developments for Greek studies”, she concludes.
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OPINION | Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition |
Zoe’s course [InTime News]The Tempe tragedy that opened a pandora’s box and brought to the forefront widespread dismay, with several of the government’s actions as well as its inaction in a number of areas during the past few years, has led to a rather unexpected development in the political scene. The small leftist party Course of Freedom has seen a meteoric rise registering a huge increase, from around 4% just a few months ago, to about 14% in most recent polls, capturing second place. Taking advantage of the fragmented center-left, where main opposition PASOK seems unable to capitalize on the government’s continued setbacks and SYRIZA has failed to resurrect itself after the departure of former Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, Course of Freedom has touched a nerve. Built solely around the explosive personality of former speaker of the parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou – known to most by her first name – who founded her own party, Course of Freedom, after she left SYRIZA in 2015, has suddenly proven a force to be reckoned with. Zoe’s intellectual weight, recognized even by her opponents, with graduate studies in Sorbonne and Columbia, along with her rhetorical skills, allowed her to make forceful presentations in parliament that in the present situation seems to appeal to a broader audience. The ones who dismiss her rise as circumstantial, including many in ruling New Democracy as well as in the two main parties of the center left opposition, PASOK and SYRIZA, might be failing to correctly read the signs. It remains to be seen if Zoe Konstantopoulou will continue on this trajectory or will end up like Germany’s Sahra Wagenknecht who split from the mainstream leftist party, Die Linke, and founded a party that for a while seemed to appeal to a broad segment of society, but whose rise proved short lived and in the recent elections failed to even enter parliament. One thing is clear. The puzzle in the opposition, as well as in the broader political scene, has become even more complicated. |
| CHART OF THE WEEK | |  The total commission income for Greece’s four systemically important banks was 2.1 billion euros in 2024, a 16.3% increase from 2023 and a rate more than double that of their interest income. The jump was a mainly a result of lending, primarily to businesses, and increased card transactions. Investment banking, which is seen as a big bet for the expansion of banking commissions, also contributed. Forecasts, which were incorporated in the business plans presented by the banks, point out that commission income is set to continually expand and become a more prominent part of the banks’ total organic income. |
| | |  | ESCAPADE | | Andros: Greece’s top hiking island for 2025 Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler as Greece’s top island for hikers, this destination boasts diverse landscapes, scenic trails, rich culture, and breathtaking beaches. Go to article > |
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| ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL | | | “The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index recorded its third week of consecutive growth and closed at 1,697.11 points, up 0.21% from last week.” | | | “The hospitality sector performed strongly in January, with a year-on-year increase of 3.6% in arrivals and 2.7% in overnight stays. Early data on airline scheduling and flight reservations also point to an increase in international air arrivals of around 5%.” | | | “The upward trajectory of house prices slowed down slightly over the last three months of the year, recording an increase of 6.6% nationwide and 6.2% in Attica. While this rate remains significantly above inflation, it is much less than the 10.8% increase in the first quarter of the year.” |
| WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA | | - 25/03/202525th March: Greece will mark the start of the Greek War of Independence with a series of cultural events and a military parade in central Athens.
- 25/03/2025PASOK leader in New York: Nikos Androulakis, leader of main opposition party PASOK, will visit the United States next week. He is set to meet with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and other officials.
- 28/03/2025Tempe inquiry: The parliamentary preliminary investigation committee will hear the testimony of former Deputy Minister Christos Triantopoulos. The session was originally set for Monday, before it was delayed, amidst outcries by opposition parties.
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Editor's Pick Greece and Cyprus will soon face difficult dilemmas. The traditional veto threat will not be effective, as this will not involve the institutional EU but rather a coalition of the willing.Alexis PapachelasRead the article |
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