The Delphi Economic Forum, the life and work of Simeon Tsomokos, which enjoys special international prestige, was organized a few days ago in cooperation with DAILY 1st Conference of the Eastern Mediterranean and South Eastern Europe at the (Holy) Oracle in Brussels. They brought to Egmont Palace the accumulated wisdom of the eternally ignored and the birthplace of the Delphic commandments. Among other things, I noted:

1. The demand of citizens of the member states of the Union, as well as those who have been waiting for years on the threshold of a door half open for them, a door half closed for them, we had to speak without oracles. However, the next disgust was with the oracle. Putin’s war in Ukraine: “How will it end? It’s not about the money” (it’s not the economy that decides to end the war). An additional quote I wrote in Delphi in April: “Never has politics been as linked/dependent on economics as it is now.” today”.

2. The position “full compliance and fulfillment of the criteria leads to membership” of the Western Balkan countries is criticized. Putin’s war in Ukraine has changed geopolitical significance and forces us to accelerate the Union’s expansion north of our borders. The crisis of certainty shows what remains. Our Balkan neighbors demand fulfillment of promises, while mainly Brussels, but also many member state capitals offer well-wrapped counter gifts.

3. The speech of the Turkish official was a rude anti-Western expression of an angry Turkey. The illusions of Europe and the impasse of the present and future of Turkey’s relations with Cyprus and Greece are depressing. Two elements: a) inaccuracies and lies, an integral part of official Turkish propaganda, and b) an operation to separate Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue from Euro-Turkish relations. A similar policy of “cutting off” Greece and Cyprus in general from cooperation and partnership with varying degrees of failure is being undertaken by Turkey with specific countries of the Persian Gulf – the Eastern Mediterranean. Gathered at the discussion table, the responsible rapporteur of the European Parliament and the adviser to the official leader of the opposition with a permanent status of a diplomat, Vangelis Kalpadakis, answered him as expected.

The most basic conclusion, however, is that the ambiguities of the Delphic oracles, half-truths and silence cannot be tolerated. Difficult and difficult situations require difficult and difficult decisions. A common word from all of us, especially from political leaders.

*Alexandros P. Mallias is an Honorary Ambassador.