User talk:PGradStudent/Greece

Greece
Hi. Greece and Cyprus both strongly support Balkan countries (especially Croatia) to join EU provided they meet the criteria as posed by EU and that they behave in a true EU spirit. Greece and Cyprus would like to see Balkans become a great peaceful place. Now, both Countries have greek & cypriot newspapers in English. So you can read from there. I propose http://www.ekathimerini.com/ for more on Greek see http://www.google.gr/search?q=greek+newspapers and for cypriot http://www.google.gr/search?q=cypriot+newspapers.

I will shortly give you the idea about issues you ask here. I will not link you (sorry no time) but you'll get the general idea. Also controversy is always to be found but I wouldn't propose it especialy in Cyprus and Greece except if you're looking for facistic views or "greece uber-alles" crap.

The perception of the local public (in a particular country) towards the EU This can be found in eurostat's yearly reports with polls and % and all that. In Greece it's positive.

The constitutional treaty. Avg EU citizen doesn't know what it says nor what it's about. Greece would have said YES (on parliament) because no refferendum was ever taken here for a loong long time on any issue (the same thing IIRC in Germany too). Generally if it would ever go to refferendum I believe it would pass as Greece is believed to be in the French-German axis of EU rather than the UK/USA axis. This has to do with the fact that we have high anti-americanism in Greece (because of Jounta in 1967-1974) and Cyprus invasion by Turkey that year all thanks to USA. More "modern" anti-americanism and anti-bushim is because of IRAQ war and generally the feeling that USA is becoming less and less democratic and that is not preferred at all in Greece.

The enlargement of the EU to include countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Malta, Cyprus

EU enlargmenet for most people means Cyprus got in. This was very positive to happen (Cyprus-Greece are brother nations, look up why in Cyprus history in Wikipedia). It's also very konwn though that 9 more (apart from Cyprus) joined and generally the past-communistic countries and the new era EU vision is known in Greece and is seen as "eu being more powerful" so it's a good thing most think.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria. ALL Political parties in Greece are in favor. Even those that are very right-wing such as LAOS. See greek politicla parties article in Wikipedia again. Mostly because we want Balkans to improve and greeks know that in balkans many greek companies operate.

The negotiations with Croatia See Romania and Bulgaria, eventhough some know the problems you have to face (war criminals etc [IIRC]) before EU accepts you.

The prospect of Turkey becoming a member etc. Greek politicians apart from LAOS support Turkey becoming a full member state PROVIDED THEY DO 100% of what EU asked and that they behave in the true EU SPIRIT of cooperation and co-understanding and COMPROMISE. It's known to every greek that since Greece said OK for Turkey to start EU procedure (2 years ago) Turkey has done a little if nothing in favor of Greece. Casus Beli remains, idiotic claims remain, non recognition of the Patriarch as such in Istanbul remains, other than muslim religions still have huge problems in Turkey and all those are known to EU. EU (since the EU constituion that failed to catch on in France owing to Turkey fear) suddenly realizes that Turkey is super problematic and pushes. Still nothing has happend that would make the greek side happy. Issues such as the reopening The Halki Christian School which was closed 30 years ago, have suddenly become huge matters from Turkey and even those (which aren't important) are always postponed to happen sometime. At the same moment we have Turkish planes fly over Greek airspace, and Erdogan (PM of Turkey) blackmail EU on joining. Generally a "to be expected disappointment" is allover Greeks from Turkey (ONCE again). Greeks still hoep though that Turkey will sometime see the miracle or whatever and start behaving like a true neighboor so Greece can spend less money to mostly US airfighters and more in education and R&D. Turkey has to (and always postpones) to recognize Cyprus which is a FULL STATE member of EU, an org that turkey wants to join. Maybe the last setence says it all

Good luck with your thesis --Nkour 00:32, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

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Hello PGradStudent,

I am afraid I don't have much time to do an article search for you and I haven't kept an archive on the issue. But I think you could overcome the language problem. What I suggest is:
 * Check the english speaking Greek press (http://www.hri.org/, Athens News, WWW.ekathimerini.com)
 * Mail the editors of the major newspapers and ask them for information.
 * Ask the press attaché of the Croatian embassy in Athens for help (Check here ).

All major newspapers have published pubic opinion polls on enlargement and future accession countries. Particularly on Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations there is some literature, also in English. Check google scholar.

You could also try to talk to professors specialising on Greek-Turkish relations in the University of Athens and Panteio University of Social and Political Science; there are also some academic experts in Britain. I won't write any names here.

Also check the following think tanks. (Could be helpful especially if you want to do some interviews).
 * Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy - ELIAMEP
 * Institute if International Relations
 * Centre for Political Research and Communications
 * Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research
 * Hellenic Centre for European Studies

Good luck in your thesis.

Regards, -Donnerstag 20:12, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

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Unfortunately, I did not have the time to conduct a full-scale research for you. Hopefully, other Greek users have already provided you adequate informations. So, let's see, what I can offer you:
 * Greek foreign minister, Dora Bakoyannis, reaffirmed Greece's strategical choice to support the candidacies of all Balcan countries, including Serbia-Montenegro, FYROM, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. This is an interview of the minister in the Austrian newspaper "Die Presse" unfortunately in Greek.
 * The Cyprian minister of foreign affairs, Giorgos Iakovou, met with Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic in 3-3-2006, reaffirming Cypriot support for the candidacy of Croatia.
 * This does not mean that we lack in Greece vehement critics of Croatia. I translate for you a comment of a Greek journalist, Angelos Stagos : "Croatia has decided that it is not a Balcal country and its nazi history proves that. This country enjoys the protection of Austria, but mainly of Germany, as well as of United States. It anticipates its accession to the EU and it already has the green light as an exchange for Vienna, so that Austria accepts the negotiations with Turkey". Let me make a few remarks: First, this comment does not reflect a general Greek feeling against Croatia. No, if I want to be accurate, I would say that most Greeks are indifferent towards Croatia (most of them have not even followed the recent political events in your country). Secondly, Greeks are in general very friendly with Serbia and they have shown their inclination during the NATO attacks (I am one of NATO critics!). Additionally, Greeks never supported the split of the former communist Yougoslavia. When it happened, they blamed Germany, believing that the Germans propelled and imposed the split of Yougoslavia, in order to prompt their financial interests. Hence, they supported or at least tolerated the sometimes grisly anti-split policy of Serbia and Milocevits. During the war in Bosnia the majority of Greeks continued to support the Serbians, predicating that they were not the only ones who committed crimes against humanity. My conclusion: Because of the long-time friendship between Greece and Serbia, Greeks have been circumspect in the past towards Croatia. Nevertheless, during the last years the two countries have strenghtened their ties.
 * The Greeks, according to the EU polls (unfortunately, I do not have a link), support Croatia's candidacy, as well as Serbia's, Bulgaria's and Romania's. But, contrary to the official stance of the Greek foreign office, they are against the candidacies of Turkey, Albania and FYROM (because of the name conflict you may know).
 * Gotovina's arrest was not a big issue in Greece, although the press covered his arrest (See "Kathimerini", 10-12-2005, ) as well as Marits' arrest, underlining the satisfaction of the international community ("Kathimerini", 9-12-2005, ). However, the shift of De Ponte's stance (higly unpopular in Greece!) during the summit of the European Council, that officially accepted Croatia's candidacy, constituted another opportunity for criticism and bitter comments against the Prosecutor of the Penal Court of Hague. Greek newspapers insisted in the inerest of Austria for Croatia's candidacy: for example, the Vienna's interest is pointed out in this article of the center-left newspaper "To Vima" (18-12-2005).
 * During the same European Council, the Greek Public was hoping that Austria will insist in her veto against Turkey, but, when the bargain of Vienna became clear (I drop the veto for Turkey, if you unblock Croatia's candidacy), hope gave its place to mild bitterness towards Austria (This is a neutral article of "Kathimerini" [title: "Austria wants Croatia as an exchange"], 1-10-2005 ! I repeat that Greece officially supports the Turkish candidacy, but, according to the polls, almost 70% of the Greeks are opposing it.
 * Stavros Tzimas points out in the conservative newspaper "Kathimerini" (30-4-2006) that Croatia is probably going to be the first Balcal country that will accede to the EU in 2009 and he underlines the "thorns" in the pre-accession procedure of the other Balcan nations.
 * This article of Giorgos Delastic (a leftist but prominenst columnist of the moderate conservative "Kathimerini"!) predicates that Austria is getting stronger and stronger by influencing (thanks to its economic power) Balcan nations and, especially, Croatia and Slovenia. I'm just translating you the title of this interesting article ("The return of the Austrian imperors - The EU presidency of Austria is going to be very active in our region, where Austrians are very influential").

I hope I've been helpful and I'm sorry I was not able to provide you links in English. I also apologise for the delay to answer to your request, but all the previous days I had exams! Good luck with your thesis!--Yannismarou 18:57, 13 May 2006 (UTC)

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Greek Newspapers
You can access the English version of a respectable Greek broadsheet at www.kathimerini.com. There is also an English language newspaper called Athens News. Both probably carry enough information for your research. Good luck. TheArchon 07:31, 14 May 2006 (UTC)