Cyprus-Forum.com

[GreekIslandGirl]

Nikitas, I don't think the stories of the behaviour of Greeks are issues unique to Greeks. Neither the behaviour of tax authorities nor that of striking workers.

What is unique is the extent of outside imposition, behaviours forced upon the Greek people.

Even now - when we have had the honour of an honest, intellectual politician who got things done, an academic who said it as it is - what has happened? Varoufakis has had to resign, despite (or because of) his great success in giving the people a voice in democracy! He has had to resign because the foreign politicians/bankers don't like a unique, clear speaking politician who cares for the common people.

[Robin Hood]

......... and actually knows what he is talking about!

[Paphitis]

Some of the things Nikitas mentions are certainly not unique to Greece. They can also be found in other countries like Turkey, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and perhaps Marocco. Many third world countries have their peculiarities and I am not saying that Greece is third world but the ways in which business is conducted in Greece is most certainly third world and that must cost Greece Billions in annual investment.

These practices or peculiarities are not things you will find in other first world economies.

There is no question that Greece needs urgent reform. This is not the issue and all Greeks I have spoken to recognize their Bordello and dream of reform and change.

However, the debt is unsustainable in its current form and the institutions have treated Greece badly. So the people voted NO.

[Nikitas]

"the extent of outside imposition"

Greek intellectuals, professor Yannaras, Stelios Ramfos, Hatzopoulos and others stress the gangster nature of Greek trade unions, the cliques that manage to leverage the "system" to their ends.

No foreign power turned the Mediterranean Programmes of the EU to private fortunes. It was done by politically connected cliques. If anything it was the lack of foreign meddling, not its existence, that allowed these things to happen. It is happening right now with renewable power and no one is lifting a finger to stop it, while the cost is passed on to the general public.

Perhaps you read of the clique in the railway company that set up their own business within a businnes renting rail cars, making a fortune while the railway company ran up a billion euro debt. But they were "workers" and therefore innocent and will most likely never be prosecuted.

More like the lack of desire to change is the cause, rather than foreigners.

After five months of unnecessary conflict with the EU, today's communique of the political leaders talks of a "more cooperative and less confrontational" approach to talks with the EU (the reason why Baroufakis left) and this:

"will seek a quickly implemented mix or reforms aimed primarily at decreasing unemployment and encouraging enterprise". It took five months to realise this was a primary need, how insightful these guys can be!

[Nikitas]

"intellectual politician"

saints preserve us! He took ten years to complete a four year civil engineering course, and his professors say he was not one of the brighter students.

Cunning, ambitious, politically astute, sure, but intellectual, do me a favor!

[kurupetos]

"intellectual politician"

saints preserve us! He took ten years to complete a four year civil engineering course, and his professors say he was not one of the brighter students.

Cunning, ambitious, politically astute, sure, but intellectual, do me a favor!

The problem is not Tsipras, but the fools that insist on voting incompetent idiots like him.

[Zenon33]

"intellectual politician"

saints preserve us! He took ten years to complete a four year civil engineering course, and his professors say he was not one of the brighter students.

Cunning, ambitious, politically astute, sure, but intellectual, do me a favor!

The problem is not Tsipras, but the fools that insist on voting incompetent idiots like him.

You're right. Tsipras is only a rookie and his program is unavailable under the Euro.

[Zenon33]

"They can also be found in other countries like Turkey, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and perhaps Marocco. Many third world countries have their peculiarities and I am not saying that Greece is third world but the ways in which business is conducted in Greece is most certainly third world and that must cost Greece Billions in annual investment".

Not yet but Greece is becoming a third world country, the standard of living is getting worse and below than countries like Spain, Malta and Cyprus. Cyprus gdp per capita is better than Greece. The public sector (worst in Western Europe) is the same as Turkey.

[GreekIslandGirl]

A few voices for reason trying to be heard above the marching German wolves ... (Wolfgang "Give Germany More Money, 1953 was too long ago" Schaeuble)

Tusk puts pressure on Germany over Greek debts

Donald Tusk’s comments on debt sustainability could be an important development, following a double-whammy of pressure from America last night.

Yesterday, International Monetary Fund MD Christine Lagarde warned that Greece is now in “a situation of acute crisis”; reforms and a “debt restructuring” are both needed to escape it.

And US Treasury secretary Jack Lew made his clearest signal yet that America believes restructuring is inevitable.

Tusk: Creditors must make proposals on Greek debt sustainability

Donald Tusk, EC president, says we have just three days to tackle the Greek crisis.

Speaking in Luxembourg, Tusk says that Greece remains the most pressing issue for Europe. We stand ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the stability of the euro area.

I spoke with prime minister Alexis Tsipras today, says Tusk. And I hope that today we will receive concrete and realistic proposals from Athens.

And if that happens, we will also need parallel proposal from the creditors.

If Greece provides a realistic proposal, then “it will need to be matched by an equally realistic proposal on debt sustainability by the creditors”.

Only then will we have a win-win situation.

Guardian

[Lordo]

what is the point of offering a plan to the eu if the griik parliament has not approved it. what the hell are they doing.

is it true that in greace you can register your yacht as an office so you dont have to pay tax free.