ON THE AFTERMATH OF #TSIPRAS VISIT TO MOSCOW

As it was expected by all logical observers the visit eased the way for better relations between Athens and Moscow without either rocking the boat of the European Union or committing Russia to extravagant financial deals difficult to materialize in these difficult times. Mr Tsipras’ pragmatism and President Putin’s common sense prevailed over the atmosphere created by run away comments of various speculative media. It is positive that the two leaders made it clear that they see into the future a relationship mutually beneficial in understanding each other’s ideas and sensitivities as well as in expanding their economic relations. Agricultural innovation and energy proved to be the two fields on which particular emphasis will be placed as far as the cooperation between the two countries is concerned.

The Greek government appears to be firmly devoted in the European project and has defused any issues of euroscepticism which may have been brooding in the backgound of the Greek political system. It has also made it more difficult for other European leftist parties to embark on campaigns of doubting Europe. SYRIZA’a acknowledgement that Europe can only be the country’s destiny has made ti difficult for similar parties in Spain and Portugal pe to portray ideas of a possible mistrust of Europe. This is rather obvious in the plummeting of PODEMOS electoral results in Spain. There is still euroscepticism in Greece and in Europe but it is gradually concentrated almost exclusively to parties of the far – and even anti-democratic- Right. They place emphasis on negating the system which inevitably limits access to public funds for personal betterment and clientelism. People who used to believe that democracy was all … THE FULL ARTICLE