Opinion
. ..The government has to wrap up the congress proceedings and focus on a number of issues which have surfaced in the wake of the terrorist assault of September 11. The first crucial issue concerns the way in which it will tackle the nascent recession. The prime minister and his close aides seem to favor a stricter implementation of the stabilization program in order to bolster the competitiveness of the Greek economy. This will, of course, fuel social unrest. However, it is easier to implement anti-social measures in times of emergency. Another fundamental issue, which the government tries to bypass, is that the country is essentially in a state of war and, therefore, reassurances that there is no cause for alarm in Greece – which have been made since the outset of the military campaign against the Taleban – are groundless. The Greek public has to be informed about potential dangers in a responsible fashion, and not just through analyses by unofficial commentators via the electronic media which can cause confusion and panic. A final, albeit crucial parameter that the government seems to ignore is that the war against global terrorism will be sustained, as US President George W. Bush has repeatedly said, and that at some point Greece may be called upon to contribute to it. As a NATO member state, Greece has specific obligations toward the alliance…
