Sunday 12 July 2015

AGONY AND FEAR





                                    Greece the tenth star on the E.U. flag.


12th July, 2015.   The night was dark and restless and matched our deep anxiety and a profound sense of foreboding concerning our country's economic and social devastation.

13th July 2015 – 2.2 am.  This is another sleepless, dramatic night.   

Yesterday, the Eurogroup with the meeting of the nineteen finance Ministers of the Eurozone, Mr.Draghi of the Central European Bank and Mrs. Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund came to a second standstill.   There was no press communiqué, showing that they were far from an agreement.

Rumours leaked out, which were later confirmed, that the German side distributed non-papers indicating that there should be a five-year GREXIT and that Greek assets, valuing up to 50 billion Euros, should be accumulated in a fund in Luxembourg in order to repay our debtors.   Fortunately, most of the others did not agree with this disgraceful proposal.


As incongruous, dramatic events are changing from moment to moment, allow me to present them to you, chronologically.

Please refer to my previous post, The Greek Referendum, the results of which were 61.2% OXI – NO, a great shock to many Greeks and other Europeans.  According to analysts, not only did SYRIZA and their junior partner ANEL vote OXI - NO for Europe, but so did Golden Dawn, a party of the extreme-right  and various eurosceptics, such as the big capital, certain banks and opportunists who thrive on chaos and anarchy.


On the 8th July, 2015, Mr. Tsipras attended a plenary session of the E.U. Parliament, in Strasbourg, concerning Greece

 He first gave a speech, where he explained to the Euro-parliamentarians the Greek Government’s aims. 

He said that the OXI -  NO referendum result mean that 61.2% of the Greek population voted NAI - YES for the E.U. and the Eurozone.

The Greek Government should be the only one to determine the financial policy that will be followed in Greece.

He insisted that the deal should include a debt relief and that the Greek economic crisis was also a  European problem.

Amongst boos and applauds, he continued that “ the money given to Greece, never went to the people.   The money was given to save Greek and European Banks".

Mr. Tsipas’ speech urged mixed responses from the E.U. M.P.s.

Mr. Manfred Weber, the European Popular Party’s leader, made a scathing assault
against Mr. Tsipras, accusing him of deceiving the Greeks and trying ardently for a rift with Europe, despite his pretensions to the contrary.  Although, I did not vote for SYRIZA, I agreed with certain of the issues that Mr.Weber  presented and I’m accustomed to political jargon, I was extremely angry with him, because he insulted the Greek Prime Minister and with a stentorian voice, he sounded like harsh and very rude Public Prosecutor.

The leaders of the French and English Europhobic parties of the extreme right, both urged Mr. Tsipras to a  GREXIT, for very obvious reasons.

Mr. Guy Verholfstatd the Belgian ex- prime-Minister presented his opinions and asked his colleague, Mr. Tsipas, if he wanted to be remembered “as an electoral accident …. or as a revolutionary reformer?”

Gianni Pittella of Italy, struck another chord.   “For us, Social Democrats,” he said, “Europe without Greece is unthinkable.”

In his reply to the E.U. M.P.s, Mr. Tsipras, maintained  that the Greek crisis was a European problem.  He urged on a Greek debt reduction, and reminded his audience that, the strongest example for solidarity was, when in 1953, many Western European governments, including Greece, decided to write off 60% of Germany’s post-war debt.    This action allowed the country to overcome “the devastations of war and enjoy a long period of prosperity”.   

On the 9th July, the Government Council gave the Prime Minister, Mr. Tsipras, the authority to present the Greek proposals to our creditors.    The Prime Minister told his cabinet that he decided to choose an agreement, because otherwise a GREXIT would be inevitable.

The MPs of all the political parties are in a state of emergency.


On the 10th July, the Greek Parliament initially authorized the Prime Minister, Mr. Tsipras, the vice-President of the Government, Mr. Dragasakis and the new Minister of Finance Mr. Tsakalotos to negotiate the Greek proposals with our creditors.


The Eurozone Finance Ministers’ meeting came to a standstill, (please see above).

The Eurozone Top Level meeting, after seventeen long, tedious hours sealed an agreement. which  Mr. Dusk called an AGREEKMENT.  A beam of hope?


17th July 2015.

In the early morning hours (2 a.m.) the plenary session of the Greek Parliament with 229 for, 64 against and 6 “present”, passed the bill “Urgent reforms for the negotiations and contracting an agreement with the European Stability Mechanism (E.S.M)”.   This will facilitate an agreement between the Greek Government and the E.S.M. and the allowance for the much hoped for liquidity, through a new loan.


SYRIZA had huge losses from the "left platform" of the party, 39 M.Ps. (32 voted No, 6 stated “present” 1 absence).   The paradox is that the M.P.s of the opposition parties of NEW DEMOCRACY, PASOK and POTAMI voted YES and passed the bill of law.  The Speaker of the House, Mrs Zoe Konstantopoulou and, the ex-finance Minister, Mr. Varoufakis both responded with a resonant OXI (NO).




Although this is a dramatic period for the country and we are all anxious and very sad, we still have to eat.   So let's prepare a few cheap but tasty dishes and serve them with style.


                                                 WATERMELON BITES





This is a cheap and comforting gourmet hors-d’oeuvre-salad, very appropriate for these difficult days.


1 kg (2 lb) watermelon, de-seeded and cut in equal bite-size pieces
250 ml (1 cup) orange juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp freshly snipped chives, optional
250 g (½ lb) feta cheese or anthotyro, cubed
Mint sprigs for garnish.

Dip the watermelon pieces in orange juice, sprinkle with a little salt, freshly ground black pepper and snipped chives, if using.   Garnish with mint, feta or anthotyro and serve.


                                            
                                              TOMATO SOUP WITH BASIL
                                                 





Try this lovely, easy soup that can be served hot or iced.

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, grated
1 clove garlic
1 large apple, peeled seeded and chopped
3 large, ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 tsp sugar or more, according to the acidity of the tomatoes
1 litre (4 cups) chicken or vegetable stock
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp chopped basil
1 tbsp cornflour diluted in 3 tbsp water

250 ml (1 cup) cream, low fat, if preferred
210 g (7 oz) feta cheese
Basil leaves for garnishing


Sauté the onion, garlic and apple, in olive oil until soft.   Add the tomatoes, sugar and stock, and bring to the boil, stirring constantly.   Lower the heat, cover and simmer gently for about 10 minutes.  Add the chopped basil and simmer 5 minutes more.   Remove from the fire and set aside to cool.  

Process the soup, sieve it and return to the heat and simmer.   Add the diluted cornflour, cook and stir until the soup thickens.   Finally add the feta cheese and cream and heat well, but do not boil! Check for seasoning, and adjust accordingly.   Serve in soup bowls and garnish with small basil leaves    If you prefer to serve the soup iced, omit the feta and cream.




                                               ROAST VEGETABLE SALAD
                                              

This is a different way of preparing roast vegetables.  If you omit the potatoes, it becomes a fabulous vegetable sauce for pasta.   My family prefer spaghetti or orzo. 

2 onions, peeled and cut in sixths or eighths
2 red peppers, stalks and seeds removed, cut in bite-size pieces
1 large aubergine or two smaller ones, cut into bite-size pieces
2 large potatoes, cut in bite-size pieces
2 courgettes, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp thyme, 
Salt, pepper and Cayenne pepper to taste
½ cup olive oil

2 large tomatoes, skinned, seeded and cubed
1 cup tomato juice
¼ cup basil leaves or
1 tbsp fresh thyme

Mix the first 9 ingredients well together and place in a single layer, on a baking dish, double-lined with baking parchment.  Roast in an oven preheated to 180 C (350 F) for about 35-40 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked, but still slightly crunchy.

Then add the tomato cubes, tomato juice and sprinkle with basil or thyme.  Bake for 12-15 minutes more. Serve hot or cold.



                                                    CHICKEN WITH TARRAGON









This dish is popular with children and adults alike..


1½ kg (3 lbs) chicken, skin removed, cut in 8 serving pieces
4 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with ¼ tsp salt, freshly ground white pepper and a 1/8 tsp    
                                                                                                             ginger powder
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 large- onions, peeled and sliced
525 ml (¾ of a bottle) dry white wine
250 ml (1 cup) hot chicken stock
2 tbsp fresh tarragon leaves, chopped

½ cup light cream

Dredge the dry chicken pieces in seasoned flour and shake to remove the excess flour.  Over moderate heat, sauté the chicken in butter and olive oil, until it is slightly browned, on all sides.  Add the onions, stir and simmer covered for 10 minutes.  Pour in the wine, add the tarragon and cook, uncovered, for 3-4 minutes, until the alcohol evaporates.  Place the lid on the saucepan, lower the heat and simmer very, very gently, for about 40 minutes, turning the chicken frequently and adding hot chicken stock, if required.  

Check the chicken breasts and if cooked, remove them to prevent them from hardening. Cover the saucepan, simmer the remaining chicken until tender.   Transfer the chicken to a dish to cool, and remove the bones.   

Reduce the sauce a little, sieve through a fine strainer, pressing with a spoon to extract all the taste of the onions, and pour back into the saucepan.  Add the chicken and check the sauce for seasoning, and adjust accordingly. It should have the thickness of single cream, so add more chicken stock or hot water to thin it down, if necessary.  Simmer until the chicken is piping hot.  Then add the cream but do not boil. 

 Serve with saffron rice or smashed potatoes and garnish with a tarragon sprig.  




                                 YOGURT AND MOCK LEMON CURD CREAM







This is a light dessert and very easy to prepare.


One 397 g (about 13 oz) tin condensed milk
2-3 lemons, the juice
1 lemon, the grated rind or more 
600-800 g (3-4 small tubs) Greek yogurt  

Stir the condensed milk with the lemon juice and rind until thick and creamy.  Add 3 tubs of yogurt and whip until well mixed.  Taste and stir in more yogurt if preferred, then place in a bowl. cover and chill.  Serve the cream sprinkled with extra grated lemon rind.




  

Saturday 4 July 2015

THE GREEK REFERENDUM






                                  
                                                          Flowers for hope 



Greece is unfortunately burdened with an enormous loan.   During the last five years, Greeks have been, heavily and, sometimes, unfairly taxed, our salaries and pensions slashed in order to repay our debts.  Also, in the private sector, umpteen businesses shut down, leaving thousands jobless.   Many young scientists left the country, seeking jobs elsewhere.

SYRIZA, a left-wing party, gave false promises about annihilating the Memorandum, dismissing the Troika and the cropping the loan.  They, also, assured us for higher salaries and pensions, lower taxes and a normal life, thus seizing the votes of the Greeks on the 25th January, 2015.


In the post ELECTIONS, I had the written:
“....    We were, all, shocked and stunned by the undiplomatic behaviour and bravado of certain Ministers ….  the cabinet’s extraordinary dress code.   Why?   To become recognizable, perhaps.”

I ended:
“     If they rule the country with sanity, we shall all wish them well for Greece and Europe.”


During the first three-and-a-half months, the new government employed umpteen civil servants and  re-opened ERT (Greek Radio Television), a state-owned broadcasting station with hundreds of employees that the country, simply, cannot afford.   They changed Security, Education and Migration laws for the worse.

Also the Prime Minister and a few of his Ministers gave numerous interviews to leading international broadcasting stations, achieving their purpose of becoming household names.

 Finally in mid-May, the Greek government started negotiating with our partners and creditors to reach an agreement on the extension of the financial assistance arrangement.    They renamed  Memorandum to “Agreement” and Troika to “Institutions”.   They, also, thought they could change the rules of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.   They refused to consent to any of the measures proposed by our creditors.   I must admit that some were very severe, but others seemed quite fair.

On the 26th June, after endless discussions and when, finally, an agreement was almost reached, the Greek delegation broke off the negotiations and left.

Early on Sunday morning the 27th June the Greek Parliament voted to hold a referendum on the 5th July that will be decisive for our future and determine if Greece remains in the eurozone and the E.U. or not.

In retaliation. the European Central Bank stopped providing Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) to Greece.   Promptly the Greek government imposed Capital Controls to prevent withdrawals of savings from the banks and to avert a collapse of the very frail fiscal system.

All the banks, both Greek and foreign will remain shut until Monday, 6th July or later.   There are  long queues of old people in front of the ATMs, where withdrawals are limited to 60 Euros per card, per day.  There is a ban on payments and transfers abroad which is very detrimental to businesses.   Also, many tourists have canceled their trips to Greece due to the very unstable economic situation.

But the worse was still to come.  As we missed a repayment of 1.5 billion Euros to the International Monetary Fund at 1 a.m., on the 1st July 2015, we were the first developed country to default.  We cannot believe it, in five months time a credit disaster.  There is a sense of shock and deep sadness throughout the country.

Dear Compatriots, I know that you are resilient and proud and brave.  Please, also be patient and enduring because very soon we shall get out of this very terrible mess!   And tomorrow,  please vote NAI  YES  NAI  YES  for your loved ones, for Greece, for Europe!!





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