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Economy
In reply to the discussion: Weekend Economists ask the Question of the Year (so far) July 11-12 2015 [View all]MattSh
(3,714 posts)36. Greek government insider lifts the lid on five months of 'humiliation' and 'blackmail'
In this interview with Mediapart, a senior advisor to the Greek government, who has been at the heart of the past five months of negotiations between Athens and its international creditors, reveals the details of what resembles a game of liars dice over the fate of a nation that has been brought to its economic and social knees. His account gives a rare and disturbing insight into the process which has led up to this weeks make-or-break deadline for reaching a bailout deal between Greece and international lenders, without which the country faces crashing out of the euro and complete bankruptcy. He describes the extraordinary bullying of Greeces radical-left government by the creditors, including Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloems direct threat to cause the collapse of the Hellenic banks if it failed to sign-up to a drastic austerity programme. We went into a war thinking we had the same weapons as them, he says. We underestimated their power.
A senior member of Greeces negotiating team with its European creditors agreed to a meeting last week in Athens with Mediapart special correspondent Christian Salmon. Speaking on condition that his name is withheld, he detailed the history of the protracted and bitter negotiations between the radical-left Syriza government, elected in January, and international lenders for the provision of a new bailout for the debt-ridden country.
The almost two-hour interview in English took place just days before last Sundays referendum on the latest drastic austerity-driven bailout terms offered by the creditors, and opposed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and which were finally rejected by 61.3% of Greek voters.
While the ministerial advisor slams the stance of the international creditors, who he accuses of leading a strategy of deliberate suffocation of Greeces finances and economy, he is also critical of some of the decisions taken by Athens. His account also throws light on the personal tensions surrounding the talks led by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who resigned from his post on Monday deploring a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted partners, for my absence from its meetings.
The advisor cites threats proffered to Varoufakis by Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem, warning he would sink Greece's banks unless the Tsipras government bowed to the harsh deal on offer, and by German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, who he says demanded: "How much money do you want to leave the euro?"
The interview follows below and over the following three pages presented in a continuous series of extracts (editors notes appear in italics within hard brackets):
Complete story at - http://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/080715/we-underestimated-their-power-greek-government-insider-lifts-lid-five-months-humiliation-and-blackm?page_article=1
A senior member of Greeces negotiating team with its European creditors agreed to a meeting last week in Athens with Mediapart special correspondent Christian Salmon. Speaking on condition that his name is withheld, he detailed the history of the protracted and bitter negotiations between the radical-left Syriza government, elected in January, and international lenders for the provision of a new bailout for the debt-ridden country.
The almost two-hour interview in English took place just days before last Sundays referendum on the latest drastic austerity-driven bailout terms offered by the creditors, and opposed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and which were finally rejected by 61.3% of Greek voters.
While the ministerial advisor slams the stance of the international creditors, who he accuses of leading a strategy of deliberate suffocation of Greeces finances and economy, he is also critical of some of the decisions taken by Athens. His account also throws light on the personal tensions surrounding the talks led by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who resigned from his post on Monday deploring a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted partners, for my absence from its meetings.
The advisor cites threats proffered to Varoufakis by Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem, warning he would sink Greece's banks unless the Tsipras government bowed to the harsh deal on offer, and by German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, who he says demanded: "How much money do you want to leave the euro?"
The interview follows below and over the following three pages presented in a continuous series of extracts (editors notes appear in italics within hard brackets):
Complete story at - http://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/080715/we-underestimated-their-power-greek-government-insider-lifts-lid-five-months-humiliation-and-blackm?page_article=1
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Weekend Economists ask the Question of the Year (so far) July 11-12 2015 [View all]
MattSh
Jul 2015
OP
Europe is blowing itself apart over Greece - and nobody seems able to stop it - Telegraph
MattSh
Jul 2015
#2
Article: Is this taking democracy too far?: The Greek People Have Said 'No!' to Austerity and Econom
MattSh
Jul 2015
#3
Robert Mundell, evil genius of the euro | Greg Palast | Comment is free | The Guardian
MattSh
Jul 2015
#4
Charles Hugh Smith: Maintaining the Illusion of Stability Now Requires Ever-Greater Extremes
MattSh
Jul 2015
#10
The U.S. Navy’s Big Mistake — Building Tons of Supercarriers — War Is Boring — Medium
MattSh
Jul 2015
#20
Startup CEO (Unwittingly) Explains Biggest Problem in America’s Unemployment Crisis | Wolf Street
MattSh
Jul 2015
#16
Who really thinks Greece should stay with the Euro? Only the Greek people, with debt restructure...
mother earth
Jul 2015
#24
"A Hostage Situation": Greece Yields to Austerity Demands Just Days After Historic "No" Vote
mother earth
Jul 2015
#25
From Fri's Dow I'm guessing the 1% is thrilled at Greece's subjugation?
bread_and_roses
Jul 2015
#33
Tell it, Pepe Escobar! Well done & TY, MattSh, great reading, all of these.
mother earth
Jul 2015
#44
William Hague warns Greece debacle is a 'minor rehearsal' for coming Euro crash | Daily Mail Online
MattSh
Jul 2015
#35
Greek government insider lifts the lid on five months of 'humiliation' and 'blackmail'
MattSh
Jul 2015
#36
Germany won’t spare Greek pain – it has an interest in breaking us | Yanis Varoufakis
MattSh
Jul 2015
#37
Germany enjoys its domination over the working class in their own country & all of the EU...Heiner
mother earth
Jul 2015
#47