When opportunism and ignorance are killing foreign policy

Russia is playing an “impressions” game, channeling information to selected Greek and Russian media in an effort to deconstruct Greece’s foreign policy, which, Greek wise, from 2015 follows a new logic.

When the government of Alexis Tsipras made new announcements on the matter and the “multidimensional and energetic foreign policy”, was heard, some may have regarded it as a small firework, whose light would soon go out and it would be lost in the darkness of phobia, inefficiency, cowardice, of half-truth and servility. With few exceptions, these are the main characteristics that dominated the foreign policy of the country even in times of prosperity and vigour.

There were not many who understood that Greece’s first reaction to the EU regarding the sanctions against Russia did not have to do with the “opening up” of the country to coreligionist Russia; to some – inside and outside the Greek borders – Russia was the “ally” which would save Greece. In essence, it was the beginning of the new form of foreign policy in Greece.

With the eyes of most in the rescuing of Greece from a possible bankruptcy, media stopped reporting on the new framework about the Cyprus issue, the co-operation axe between Greece and Bulgaria, the penetration of Greece in the Balkans and the settlement of disputes with Albania and its Macedonia, direct talks with Turkey, the visit to Iran, tripartite partnerships and so many more news that would need dozens of paper pages to be written on.

All of a sudden, and only after it had taken place, they had all discovered, what the government’s “multidimensional and active foreign policy” had actually managed to build. Criticism, has therefore been a natural consequence of the new practice, which can not be understood by reason of half-truth and servility. Criticism according to each and everyone’s interests, with obsessions and easy rehash full of ignorance and inertia.

It is understandable and appropriate for criticism to exist. However, constructive, active and productive. Not criticism for the sake of criticism. It is well known that the two former large parties, ND and PASOK, are known for their own “Hubris Syndrome”.

According to the syndrome’s explanation basis, the reviler considers citizens his “platform” to exert power and authority. The person believes he/she is the same as the state or the nation and ignores suggestions and remarks, believing he/she is infallible and knows the truth better than anyone else. He/She has excessive self-confidence, losing touch with reality.

No one can ignore that the two former major parties in Greece have accumulated political experience that would be useful at this stage to help the country emerge from the crisis that led it with their ND and PASOK policies.

Reproduction of false news, inexpensive criticism without serious arguments, with the sole purpose of damaging the government without being interested in the next day of Greece’s presence on the international stage, if anything, is a very risky thing to do.

Undoubtedly, the government has made mistakes, perhaps more than the number it should have made right at this point. But what one can not easily challenge is that Greece has now become a significant force as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region. This is an achievement of its multidimensional and active foreign policy./IBNA