I was affected by the heavy political atmosphere and the debate about the causal relationship with the functioning of institutions aimed at protecting our national security. Especially today, when revisionism, the real threats and dangers posed by the government and the opposition are as acute as they were in the recent past. At the same time, disagreeing – which is not original – in the way they are treated. The problem is not only today. But this is also relevant. I have my own perception of the repeated failures in this area in the post-political period, which even led to government crises. The crisis of January 1996 is better known. But it was not the only one. Just a few years ago, he faced a major crisis, with the main actors heading two major ministries.

One does not need to be an experienced politician or a close observer of public affairs to understand that in Greek specificity, as a rule, individuals positively, negatively or neutrally shape the functioning of institutions. The reverse, although self-evident, is, I fear, intentional.

Situations like this make me sad. I belong to that category of statesmen of our post-political republic who at all times preached political consensus, mutual understanding and inter-party continuity as a fundamental factor of national progress, strength and deterrence. Also in the category of citizens who firmly believe in the ever-growing deterrent force of our country.

I also feel embarrassed because we are still perhaps the only member country of NATO, the European Union and the Balkans, which, a hundred years after the catastrophe in Asia Minor, has not been cut to create a real high-level national security. Advice. Exemplary management of continuous and simultaneous crises from Evros and the Aegean to the present day is not in itself a sufficient condition to justify his cowardly presence. Among those who have been working on the idea and publicly proposing it for a decade, I welcomed the announcement of its creation before the 2019 elections. I read about the “renewal” of the National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s statement on August 8. The development of the positive side.

Let me also add that the so-called meeting or council of political leaders – politicians and parties beg when they are in opposition but hate when they rule – does not seem like an attractive and desirable option due to the murky thirty years ago. past (April 1992, Macedonian). It is appropriate and pointless to recall that in this Council the political leaders-participants demonstrated a high degree of responsibility and understanding of the seriousness of the circumstances, presenting significant remarks, among which Mr. KKE, Mr. Alekas Paparigas. The problem arose from a conflict between the prime minister and the foreign minister. Also, subsequently because, with the exception of Michalis Papakonstantinou, no one wanted to distance themselves with regard to the binding or non-binding decisions on manipulations in Macedonian. Publicly at least.

On July 6, 2015, an extraordinary meeting of our political leaders saved Greece from final and total annihilation. We then opposed those who identified anti-Europeanism with the new patriotism and “nationalism”. Luckily everything turned around. Thanks to the common sense and patriotism of some political factions, as well as the fact that the prime minister did not foresee the imminent catastrophe and changed priorities, Greece remained in the safe harbor of the European Union.

Does anyone remember what happened before and what was the political climate on Sunday July 5 or two days before? Unfortunately.

Uncomfortable today. Interesting: in thirty years, nothing has changed in the Aegean, in our Balkan neighborhood, in Europe and on the world stage after the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Even risky power showdowns with Russia and China and a real threat of a global conflict? Indeed, isn’t a broad confidential discussion of our political orders now required, away from telephoto lenses?

It is true that abroad, in the neighborhood and beyond, some or many are content with our own crisis, which affects even the fundamental institution of our national security. Can anyone disagree with such labeling of at least the Prime Minister’s statement? Undoubtedly, our participatory democracy and the improvement of the political climate require bold initiatives that go beyond individual or institutional responsibility.

Let all parties realize that we are living in the most dangerous period of recent decades. Perhaps, sooner than we expect, critical and difficult decisions will be required that go beyond the political, constitutional and institutional limits of the responsibility of every government and every political faction.

On this day, we will all be called to excel. Along with blaming and correcting factual errors on the one hand, rebalancing and measures in the political conflict on the other are now necessary conditions.

* Mr. Alexandros P. Mallias has served as a diplomat for 11 governments and 15 foreign ministers.