Foreign Policy
Erdogan's questioning of border treaty catches Athens cold
There was a slow and nervous response from Athens over the past few days in the wake of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan openly challenging the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, and with it Greece’s sovereignty over its Aegean islands, in what is the most serious threat to relations between the two countries for some time.
Athens pleased with UN talks, Cyprus deal seen taking time
The Greek government believes Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s participation in the recent 71st United Nations General Assembly was successful as the issues the Greek delegation wanted to promote were discussed during talks the premier held on the sidelines of the gathering.
Lesvos fire highlights growing threat to government from refugee crisis
More than half of the Moria hotspot on Lesvos was destroyed in a fire on Monday night, underlining the increasing problems that Greek authorities are facing in dealing with the refugee crisis, which is one of the most serious, although not obvious, political risks for the current government.
Government's relationship with Stournaras teeters again
The spotlight is back on the government’s fractious relationship with Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras after anti-corruption prosecutors reportedly raided the ex-finance minister’s home on the same day that the central bank blocked coalition-backed nominations for the top positions at troubled Attica Bank.
Athens briefed as talks on Cyprus reunification intensify
United Nations special adviser on the Cyprus issue Espen Barth Eide visited Athens this week to brief Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on the progress made during last month's intensive talks between the two leaders in Cyprus.
Talk of refugee returns adds to stretched Greece's anxiety
Germany’s stance on the refugee crisis, amid fears of a worsening situation on Greek islands, is creating considerable anxiety in Athens about how events will unfold in the coming months.
Greece not seen meeting milestones soon, refugee rise may add to tension
There was little encouragement from Brussels so far this week for the Greek government ahead of the next review.
Greek, Turkish foreign ministers hold informal talks as refugee crisis, Cyprus loom
An unofficial meeting between the Greek and Turkish foreign ministers on Crete on Sunday culminated in message of support for Turkey’s European prospects.
Athens sticks by effort to build bridges with FYROM
The foreign ministers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia underlined the need for the two countries to improve their relations through confidence-building measures (CBMs) when the pair met last week.
Recent steady rise in refugee arrivals pose extra challenge for Greece
The Greek government labelled as “unsubstantiated” claims that it is about to accept refugees from Germany on Crete, a move that would be incompatible with concerns in Athens that the small but steady rise in migrant arrivals over the last few weeks being the pre-cursor of bigger challenges.