Greece: PM Tsipras "Backs Down"; "Accepts Creditors' Conditions, with Changes", Holding Out On Many Millions; "Cool Reception in Brussels"; Battle of the Economists

From the FT

"Alexis Tsipras will accept all the bailout creditors’ conditions that were on the table last weekend with only a handful of minor changes, according to a letter the Greek prime minister sent late on Tuesday night...Although the bailout’s expiry at midnight Tuesday night means the extension is no longer on the table, Mr Tsipras’ new letter, which marks a significant climbdown from his previous position, could serve as the basis of a new bailout in the coming days".

Tsipras' Letter here (New York Times)

Letter (pdf)

"I am writing to inform you on the position of the Hellenic Republic towards the list of Prior Actions of the Staff Level Agreement as published on the European Commission website on June 28th 2015. 

The Hellenic Republic is prepared to accept this Staff Level Agreement subject to the following amendments, additions or clarifications, as part of an extension of the expiring EFSF program and the new ESM Loan Agreement for which a request was submitted today, Tuesday June 30th 2015.

As you will note, our amendments are concrete and they fully respect the robustness and credibility of the design of the overall program. 

1. VAT reform: Maintain the 30% discount on islands, to be applied to the new rates.

2. Fiscal structural measures: Gradually increase the advance payment of individual business income tax to 100 percent and phase out the preferential tax treatment for farmers (including the subsidies for excise on diesel oil) by end-2017. Reduce the expenditure ceiling for military spending by €200 million in 2016 and €400 million in 2017 through a targeted set of actions, including a reduction in headcount and procurement. 

3. Pensions: The 2010 reform will be fully implemented but the 2012 reform (sustainability factor) will be postponed until the new legislative reform is implemented in October 2015. EKAS will be phased-out by end-2019 but without any immediate action on the top 20% of beneficiaries. All nuisance charges will be phased out by end-2017, starting from October 31, 2015. 

4. Labour markets: The new framework will be legislated in autumn 2015.

5. Product markets: Immediately implement specific recommendations from OECD’s toolkit 1 (tourist rentals, tourist buses, truck licenses, code of conduct for traditional foodstuff and eurocodes on building materials), toolkit 2 (beverages and petroleum products), and open the restricted professions of notaries, actuaries, and court bailiffs, liberalize the market for gyms and eliminate significant portion of nuisance charges. Moreover, in cooperation with the OECD, implement an ambitious reform package including:  Create One-Stop-Shop (OSS) services for businesses (best practice analysis, as well as a comprehensive roadmap already prepared and completed in cooperation with the OECD);  Conduct immediately a comprehensive competition assessment on specific sectors characterized by oligopolistic practices (e.g. construction, wholesale trade, agricultural products, media, etc.) and adopting recommendations accordingly (roadmap and timelines already prepared by the OECD);  Implement immediately a comprehensive strategy against corrupt business practices, for example in the area of public procurement procedures (roadmap and timeline already prepared by the OECD). ADMIE will be split from the PPC into a separate legal entity under state majority ownership. 

Thank you in advance for your support. I look forward to hearing from you". 

A cool reception in Brussels (Kathimerini) - Ψυχρή υποδοχή της πρότασης από τις Βρυξέλλες - σε λίγο δήλωση Τσίπρα

More (MSN/Sin) -  Πληροφορίες αναφέρουν ότι το χάσμα μεταξύ των δύο πλευρών παραμένει μεγάλο και οι υπουργοί Οικονομικών δύσκολα θα δεχθούν, ενώ τα διεθνή ΜΜΕ κάνουν λόγο για εμπλοκή. «Δεν υπάρχει σοβαρή βάση συζήτησής», λένε αξιωματούχοι των Βρυξελλών.
Οι θεσμοί τονίζουν ότι οι προτάσεις του Αλέξη Τσίπρα είναι ανεδαφικές, δεδομένου του νέου δημοσιονομικού κενού που έχει δημιουργήσει το bank run, η επιβολή κεφαλαιακών ελέγχων και γενικώς η αναγγελία του δημοψηφίσματος.


From Kathimerini -Ο Αλέξης Τσίπρας αποδέχεται την τελευταία πρόταση Γιούνκερ όπως αυτή κατατέθηκε στις 28 Ιουνίου σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες της «Κ» όπως προκύπτει από την επιστολή του πρωθυπουργού προς τους επικεφαλής της Κομισιόν, του ΔΝΤ και της ΕΚΤ, την οποία δημοσιεύουν και οι Financial Times. Με την δισέλιδη επιστολή η Αθήνα θα αποδεχτεί όλες τις μεταρρυθμίσεις σχετικά με τον ΦΠΑ, με μία μικρή αλλαγή, την διατήρηση της ειδικής έκπτωσης 30% στα ελληνικά νησιά.

Summary in English

Bloomberg - Greece Prepared to Accept Creditors’ Proposals With Changes

New York Times

Tweet:

Peter Spiegel ‏@SpiegelPeter 10 minutes ago

Getting sig pushback from creditors on new @atsipras letter. #Greece still holding out on items amounting to "hundreds of millions" at least


BBC News item - Not so clear as many think that PM Tsipras has "caved in", Far from it.

Tsipras' address to nation : Διάγγελμα Τσίπρα: Εμμένει στο δημοψήφισμα και το «όχι» ο πρωθυπουργός - Ο κ. Τσίπρας τόνισε ότι όχι στο δημοψήφισμα είναι αποφασιστικό βήμα για καλύτερη συμφωνία. «Η λαϊκή βούληση είναι ισχυρότερη από την κυβερνητική» είπε.
Όπως τόνισε ο Πρωθυπουργός, είναι απαράδεκτο σε αυτήν την Ευρώπη να έχουμε εικόνες ντροπής με κλειστές τράπεζες, ενώ καταλόγισε στους Ευρωπαίους ότι έκλεισαν τις τράπεζες επειδή η κυβέρνηση δίνει τον λόγο στο λαό. «Δεν θα περίμενα ποτέ η δημοκρατική Ευρώπη να μη δώσει χώρο και χρόνο σε ένα λαό να αποφασίσει» ανέφερε χαρακτηριστικά.
Απευθυνόμενος στους συνταξιούχους είπε ότι «για να προστατεύσουμε τις δικές σας συντάξεις δίνουμε τη μάχη. Για να προστατεύσουμε το δικαίωμά σας σε αξιοπρεπείς συν΄ταξεις κι όχι ένα απλό φιλοδώρημα δίνουμε τη μάχη τόσο καιρό» (MSN/naftemboriki).

Evangelos Venizelos writes: Ο κ. Τσίπρας επιδιώκει απλώς να ενισχύσει το «όχι». Δίνει μια μικρόψυχη και μικροκομματική μάχη οπισθοφυλακής.

Samaras' viewpoint - Η κυβέρνηση χρεοκόπησε τη χώρα και παρακαλά για νέο μνημόνιο

Karamanlis' viewpoint - Την Κυριακή λέμε «ναι» στην Ευρώπη

Avgi's line - ΟΧΙ στον Σόιμπλε και στην τρόικα εσωτερικού

The Guardian: Berlin accuses Tsipras - Berlin accuses Tsipras of seeking scapegoats outside own ranks

Yannis Koutsomitis ‏@YanniKouts
Tsipras attacks creditors' proposals. [which he accepted last night].

Huffington Post: «Θα συζητήσουμε σχετικά με τις προτάσεις, αλλά με αυτή την τελευταία ομιλία (του κ. Τσίπρα) βλέπω λιγοστές πιθανότητες προόδου», ανέφερε ο Ντάισελμπλουμ σε δημοσιογράφους.

Wall Street Journal - Read the Greek Referendum Documents — and the Mistranslation

Council of Europe on the referendum (The Telegraph)

"Council of Europe: referendum falls short of international standards -
The head of the Council of Europe, an independent body that promotes co-operation between European countries, said that Greece's referendum would fall short of international standards if held as planned on Sunday. Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said international standards recommend that a referendum be held with at least two weeks' notice to allow sufficient time for discussion, with a clear question put to the people and with international observers monitoring the vote. The vote "has been called on such a short notice, that this in itself is a major problem," Jagland said Wednesday by phone from Lisbon, Portugal. "And also the fact that the questions that are put to the people ... are not very clear."

in.gr report - Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης: Το δημοψήφισμα δεν πληροί τα διεθνή πρότυπα

Reuters report - "Greek referendum falls short of standards - Council of Europe - Greece's July 5 referendum does not meet non-binding guidelines drawn up by the Council of Europe, notably one recommending that voters have at least two weeks to make their minds up, the human rights watchdog said on Wednesday. It said it was also unable to send observers as a result of the short notice. While there are no automatic legal consequences, the council's view underlines the confusion that many Greeks feel about the hastily-called plebiscite..."

The Referendum Site

Enikos.gr report - Merkel: No negotiations on new bailout before referendum

The Economist- Madness Without Method

Bloomberg Business - Dijsselbloem Says No Grounds for More Talks Ahead of Greek Vote

Eight steps (Reuters/MSN, Naftemporiki) - Αυτή είναι η διαδικασία για το τρίτο πρόγραμμα βοήθειας της Ελλάδας

From Corfu Press, on the referendum - Ionian Islands Regional Political propaganda?

Ψήφισμα εξέδωσε τη Δευτέρα κατά τη συνεδρίαση του το Περιφερειακό Συμβούλιο Ιονίων Νήσων, σχετικά με την απόφαση της κυβέρνησης να προχωρήσει σε δημοψήφισμα την ερχόμενη Κυριακή.
Συγκεκριμένα το ψήφισμα αναφέρει τα εξής:

«Το περιφερειακό συμβούλιο Ιονίων Νήσων επικροτεί την απόφαση της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης να προχωρήσει στην διεξαγωγή δημοψηφίσματος την 5η Ιουλίου ώστε να αποφανθεί ο ίδιος ο λαός απέναντι στην πρόταση των δανειστών (Ε.Ε, ΔΝΤ, ΕΚΤ).
Πρόκειται για μια κίνηση υπεράσπισης της εθνικής μας αξιοπρέπειας και σεβασμού των δημοκρατικών δικαιωμάτων του ελληνικού λαού.
Καλούμε τους πολίτες των Ιονίων Νήσων να προσέλθουν μαζικά στην κάλπη και να στείλουν ηχηρό μήνυμα δημοκρατίας και λαϊκής κυριαρχίας.
Είμαστε βέβαιοι ότι η ψήφος τους θα σηματοδοτήσει την καθαρή απόρριψη της αντιλαϊκής πρότασης των δανειστών, την απαρχή μια νέας πορείας της χώρας μας για απαλλαγή από τη λιτότητα και τα μνημόνια, για διαγραφή του μεγαλύτερου μέρους του χρέους, κατάργηση των μνημονιακών νόμων, βοήθεια στους έχοντες ανάγκη συμπολίτες, προστασία της δημόσιας περιουσίας, του φυσικού μας πλούτου και των υποδομών, δρομολόγηση μια νέας αναπτυξιακής πορείας προς όφελος των λαϊκών στρωμάτων».

MSN/Capital.gr - Ναυάγιο στο Eurogroup

Kathimerini comments: Creditors don't trust Greece's latest plan

Kathimerini: Eurogroup's Surprise and anger, Tsipras' address and comments

Varoufakis blogs: Why "NO"

Lafazanis walks out of Star TV Studio: the quality of the debate in Greece? (video)

The Battle of the Economists and Advisers: Joseph Stiglitz (The Guardian)

Paul Krugman - Greece Over the Brink

James Galbraith in The American Prospect

Sony Kapoor, World Economic Forum - How Greece was never given a fair chance to recover from the crisis - Sony Kapoor is Director of the Re-Define think tank and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics.

Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, Deutsche Welle - Nobel economist urges Greeks: Vote 'yes' in the referendum -
"I would vote Yes and I would encourage everyone that I can to vote Yes, because a No vote would be a complete dead end which would lead eventually to a Grexit. In that case, I cannot see how you can stay in the euro and hope to get sufficient liquidity from the European Central Bank to run a banking system and get the economy to recover and move again. Greece would be going backwards and backwards into more recession".

Referendum Divides Nobel Economists - Deutsche Welle

The New York Times - The Decisions That Greece Faces - "Mr. Krugman, together with a number of other illustrious American economists, looks at Greece as a playground for the austerity versus non-austerity debate. Except that this is not the issue in Greece today" - Letter from George Papaconstantinou

Corfu, Greece: "Climate of Fear - Banks run dry" ; Holidays in Greece; Greek Concerns; Tourists' Concerns

From Mail Online - Climate of fear as the banks run dry amid Greece's move towards economic meltdown, writes RICHARD PENDLEBURY from Corfu

"Paradise is in danger of being lost. Yesterday, as Greece lurched ever closer to default and an exit from the eurozone, a chill was running through this former British protectorate, while its UK expat community and incoming tourists felt the first bite of impending economic disaster. Foreign credit cards are now being refused here; petrol stations are also running dry, as are some of the cash machines at the local banks whose doors closed on Monday. The majority of banks will stay shut for the rest of the week, if not longer".

Kindinologies? Scaremongering?

Cash is King on Corfu (The Independent) - "Cash is king in Corfu town. No-one will mention the Greek crisis to any visiting tourist unless you bring it up yourself. As the children of super-rich Russian oligarchs skim stones on the Ionian Sea, one might be forgiven for thinking "Crisis, what crisis?"

BBC News on Planning a Holiday in Greece

"What's it really like on holiday in Greece?" - some tourists are asking 'where's the economic crisis?'

"A magnet for muggers" -

"Families of four should carry at least €1,500 for a two week trip to Greece
That figure could double if the family considers hiring a car for their trip
Typical travel insurance policies only cover around £400 worth of cash".

Safes selling well (Herald Sun) - Those selling safes are cashing in on Greece’s financial uncertainty

Stockpiling food (Business Insider) "Locals stockpiling food and fuel, leaving many supermarkets empty and petrol stations without a drop of gas available. Several days later — and the situation has not changed""

Banks will start running out of money (The Times) - "Banks will start running out of cash on Sunday even as Greeks go to the polls, with their government urging a “no” vote on austerity measures proposed by international creditors".

Cash Crunch (Wall Street Journal) - Cash Crunch Hits Everyday Life in Greece-
"Shutdown of Greece’s banking system cripples businesses, makes it hard for people to pay bills; just €1 billion in cash left"

Greek banks will only reopen after a deal with lenders (Reuters) - "Nikos Pappas, a state minister and top aide to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, told journalists on Thursday that the banking system would return to normal "the minute we have a clear result." "The banks will reopen as soon as we get an agreement," he said, adding that the government "would never consider" a haircut on deposits"

iefimerida: Merkel to the rescue

From the point of view of foreign tourists (as opposed to that of Greek pensioners and the unemployed) I would say, in good Aussie fashion: "No worries". Angela will fix it. But now I'm not so sure.

Shameful pictures from Greece; Greek pensioners queue for a pittance

Lafazanis on Fuel Reserves Plan (To Vima)

Kammenos on Role of Army to ensure Stability (EUObserver) - "The special forces in the army are responsible for maintaining the stability inside the country," Greek Defence minister Panos Kammenos said in a statement Thursday (2 July), three days ahead of a referendum on Greece's bailout programme. The statement comes amid capital controls and closed banks in Greece.

The Telegraph reports - Greek banks down to €500m in cash reserves as economy crashes

Vitsa, Zagori: Painting Technique and Wall-Painting Preservation, St. Nicholas' Church, Vitsa, Zagori

"PAINTING TECHNIQUE AND STATE OF CONSERVATION OF WALL PAINTINGS IN SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH AT ZAGORI- GREECE "

Abstract here (pdf)

"Results: Τhe examination of cross-section samples by VLM and SEM-EDX, combined with FTIR analysis of powder samples enabled the identification of inorganic pigments of the wall paintings (red ochre, yellow ochre, terre verte, malachite, cinnabar and lime),  the characterisation of the inorganic constituents in plaster. In addition, decay products (nitrates, oxalates and gypsum) have been identified by FTIR and microbial flora was detected by SEM. The detection of proteins in cross-section samples was achieved by staining with fluorescent dyes (FITC) followed by microscopic observation, as well as FTIR (analysis of water soluble fraction of sampled powders). Finally, HPLC analysis showed egg yolk as the major component in binder of paint layers and animal glue in plaster".

St. Nicholas Church, Vitsa, Zagori; built in 1612

The precious wall-paintings (c. 1618-1619, by Mikhail and his son Constantinos, from Lynotopi, Kastoria), and the roof remain in urgent need of conservation, as a result of dampness.

I have only once seen the inside of the church, when Professor Panayiotis Vokotopoulos
gave a fascinating talk about the wall-paintings.

Ο Παναγιώτης Βοκοτόπουλος κατέχει πολλές ιδιότητες: καθηγητής Βυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας στα Πανεπιστήμια Αθηνών και Θεσσαλονίκης, Ακαδημαϊκός, συγγραφέας, ερευνητής.
Το συγγραφικό του έργο αναφέρεται κυρίως στην βυζαντινή εκκλησιαστική αρχιτεκτονική και στην βυζαντινή και μεταβυζαντινή ζωγραφική (τοιχογραφίες, εικόνες και μικρογραφίες χειρογράφων).

Greece, Zagori: Horse-Riding and Treks from Papingo; Nature Photographs by Costas Zissis; Trekking and Rafting

White Pegasus website

Routes and Rides

More horse-riding possibilities

Naturally Zagori website, photos by Costas Zissis

Naturally Zagori Gallery

Trekking in Zagori

Nature and Landscape Photography Course and Retreat with Costas Zissis

More Retreats

Costas Zissis website

Costas Zissis - renewed website

On Foot Holidays

Route Map

True Adventure Zagori Trekking

Rafting in Zagori (Extreme Greece)

Rafting Zagori

Rafting in Greece (Visit Greece)

Botanical Expeditions

Hikes 4 All - Wild Orchids

Zagori and Sivota (Authentic Experiences)

Greece: Three Old Songs for the Summer of 2015: μια μπουκιά ψωμί

Three significant songs:

Aponi Zoi

I Koinonia

To Parapono

(Singers: Vithikotsis, Bellou and Karezi).


"Heartless life -
you threw us to one side
you wronged us;
not even for a moment
did you come to wipe away our tears;
you hunted us -
our great sin
was to be poor
with a bitter heart
filled with sighs;

Heartless life,
we did not want palaces and stars
from you;

you should have given us
just a crust of bread -
for us orphaned doves;
the north wind battered us,
the rain drank
the blood of the heart,

because we were poor

Άπονη ζωή

Άπονη ζωή
μας πέταξες στου δρόμου την άκρη
μας αδίκησες
ούτε μια στιγμή
δεν ήρθες να μας διώξεις το δάκρυ
μας κυνήγησες
το κρίμα μας βαρύ
μας γέννησες φτωχούς
με την καρδιά πικρή
γεμάτη στεναγμούς

Άπονη ζωή
δεν θέλαμε παλάτια κι αστέρια
να μας χάριζες
μια μπουκιά ψωμί
για μας τα ορφανά περιστέρια
ας χαλάλιζες
μας έδειρε ο βοριάς
μας ήπιε η βροχή
το αίμα της καρδιάς
γιατί είμαστε φτωχοί

Λευτέρης Παπαδόπουλος


Η κοινωνία

Η κοινωνία με κατακρίνει
μ’ έχει αδικήσει στ’ αληθινά
και το κορμί μου στιγμή δεν παύει
να τυραννιέται και να πονά.

Ένιωσα, ένιωσα ποια είναι η κοινωνία
ένιωσα του κόσμου την τόση αδικία.

Ό,τι αγαπούσα το έχω χάσει
χαρά στον κόσμο δεν έχω δει
η κοινωνία μου `χει στερήσει
ό, τι ποθούσα μες στη ζωή.

Ένιωσα, ένιωσα ποια είναι η κοινωνία
ένιωσα του κόσμου την τόση αδικία.

Από του κόσμου την αδικία
που κάθε τόσο με κυνηγά
μες στη ζωή μου την πικραμένη
θα τυραννιέμαι παντοτινά.

Ένιωσα, ένιωσα ποια είναι η κοινωνία
ένιωσα του κόσμου την τόση αδικία.

Βασίλης Καραπατάκης


Το παράπονο (Ούτε ένα ευχαριστώ)

Σου `φερα νερό στις χούφτες
για να πιεις, να ξεδιψάσεις
που ν’ τ’ αχείλι σου πικρό
Κι ως ξεδίψασε η καρδιά σου
βιάστηκες να προσπεράσεις
Τόση πίκρα, τόση δίψα, τόσος πόνος
κι ούτε ένα ευχαριστώ

Σου `φερα ψωμί και μέλι
κι ένα καθαρό σεντόνι
και τον χτύπο απ’ την καρδιά
Και δε μου `δωσες το χέρι
κι έχεις φύγει χελιδόνι
Τόση πίκρα, τόση δίψα, τόση αγάπη
και μια θάλασσα ερημιά

Λευτέρης Παπαδόπουλος

Greece, July 1, 2015 - σε καθεστώς χρεοκοπίας; (In Default - Virtually Bankrupt - 'Damit ist das Land faktisch pleite')

MSN/SKAI.gr - Ντάισεμπλουμ: Από την Τετάρτη η Ελλάδα είναι σε καθεστώς χρεοκοπίας - η στάση της Αθήνας έναντι των πιστωτών της πρέπει να αλλάξει πριν οι εταίροι της στην ευρωζώνη εξετάσουν την όποια πρόσθετη οικονομική βοήθεια.

Reuters report - Greece defaults on IMF payment despite last-minute overtures to creditors -

"Jeroen Dijsselbloem, chairman of the euro zone's group of finance ministers, warned that Athens was welcome to ask for new aid but that it would come with conditions. "What can change is the political stance of the Greek government that has led to this unfortunate situation," Dijsselbloem said"    DEFAULT - "Greece has received nearly 240 billion euros in two bailouts from the European Union and International Monetary Fund since 2010. The money has allowed the country to stay afloat but at a high cost to its population, which has swallowed many austerity measures such as cuts to pensions, wages and public services".

Bloomberg report - "Greece became the first advanced economy to miss a payment on IMF debt, joining the historical ranks of delinquents from Cuba to Zimbabwe after the Mediterranean nation’s bailout talks with creditors collapsed".

Der Spiegel report - "Griechenland hat seine fällige Schuldenrate von 1,55 Milliarden Euro an den IWF nicht zurückgezahlt. Damit ist das Land faktisch pleite"..."Die großen Ratingagenturen wollen Griechenlands Zahlungsunfähigkeit noch nicht als Staatsbankrott werten. Selbst wenn Griechenland am 20. Juli die 3,5 Milliarden Euro aus Staatsanleihen nicht bedienen könnte, die die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) in ihren Bilanzen hält, wäre das für die Agenturen kein Grund zum Handeln. Für sie ist die Pleite erst dann perfekt, wenn das Land seine Verpflichtungen gegenüber privaten Gläubigern nicht mehr erfüllt".

The Guardian report - Greek failure to make IMF payment deals historic blow to eurozone

imerisia.gr report - πλέον ουσιαστικά, αν όχι τυπικά σε κατάσταση χρεοκοπίας.

Nikos Dimou, Protagon - Ως εδώ ήτανε - little sympathy here...I don't think that Dimou expresses the mood of the people.

New hope and help will come after the referendum. If it is cancelled (increasingly likely?), will it be because the YES/NO question is now largely redundant , or because the government wants to remain in power and fears that the tide of public opinion is changing  -  that the majority of Greeks will vote YES to accepting what the partners have on the table to offer?

BBC News

Sueddeutsche Zeitung - Tspiras-Vize stellt Referendum infrage

iefimerida - Ο Βαρουφάκης σε 5 μήνες έκανε την Ελλάδα σκουπίδι

Mignatiou report

New York Times: Tourism Steady