THE EU CARD IS NO MORE
By Alexis Papachelas

Kathimerini
Sept 9 2009
Greece

Greece and Turkey are currently spinning in different orbits. Athens
has entered a phase of navel-gazing, flirting with political
instability. Confidence is running at a low.

Turkey, on the other hand, is behaving as a middle-sized, if not big,
power as it tries to resolve a number of long-standing problems, such
as the Armenia and Kurdish issues. Ahmet Davutoglu, its new foreign
minister, is trying to transform Turkey into a key geopolitical
player. Normally, all this should not be of immediate concern
to Greece, as Turkey’s size and opportunities are on an entirely
different level.

On the other hand, historical experience suggests that a segment of the
so-called "deep state" has sought to exploit political uncertainty in
Greece to put pressure on Athens. It did so in 1955 with an ailing
Alexandros Papagos, in 1974, and in 1996 during the power vacuum
until Costas Simitis asserted full control.

At the same time, the European card, so to speak, is losing
its strength. The establishment in Ankara sees that, given the
existing mood across Europe, any hopes of full EU membership are
groundless. Greece’s foreign policy, which has so far been planned
around the scenario of the EU "carrot," is now up in the air. But it’s
far from clear what other options are now available to put pressure
on Turkey.

Ankara believes that time in bilateral relations is on its side. It is
organized and patient, putting forward its demands while, at the same
time, trying to assert its hegemony in the Aegean Sea. An escalation
of tension, so far manageable, should not be ruled out.

Greece’s political parties must join hands to steer clear of the
pitfalls. Above all, they must tackle the huge domestic issues
that make us look small in the eyes of our rivals. Greece’s biggest
challenges are domestic. We must put our own house in order before
worrying about our neighbors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress