On Tuesday the team of ministers and experts will head out from Athens for Paris, where the negotiations from the progress report of the Greek economy will take place; the content of this progress report will largely determine the nature and the intensity of the economic policy goals for 2015.
A lot has been invested in these negotiations and most media outlets have clearly overstated their importance.
However, the negotiations in Paris will be preliminary, they are meant to test intentions and prospects, rather than yield any final results. These negotiations will inform the next round of talks in Athens, with the troika’s technical teams and leadership.
The Minister of Finance has openly admitted that the negotiations in Paris were an innovation, so that the troika would not set up camp in Athens over the summer, in order to deescalate the tension from its regular visits, which – generally speaking – create a heavy climate and atmosphere.
Truth be told, the Greek problem will not be solved in Paris.
The circumstances for a final exit from the crisis will be determined in Athens and Greece. It will not be the troika which will create such circumstances, rather the Greek political leadership, the parties, the political, social and financial powers but above all, the Greek people, who have demonstrated strength, tolerance and perseverance.
Because, quite simply, the Greek people want the country to be vibrant, intact, peaceful and integrated into the modern world.
The Greek people have shown what they want and do not want.
Those who do not understand this are not living on this planet, but somewhere else.
It is time that they all take a lesson from the Greek people and assume their responsibilities.
TO VIMA
