A pivotal year
This could be the year that the local economy gets back on the path to growth and Greece again becomes a “normal” country, as it were.
It is really up to us. Almost four years since the Greek government signed the first bailout agreement, we now stand at a crucial crossroads. Society’s justified anger and frustration will have to be transformed into a force of renewal and creativity.
Much delayed reforms – institutional as well as constitutional – are the only way forward.
That said, developments in 2014 will also be affected by the decisions of the country’s European partners and international lenders. They ought to admit that Greece, which has been battered by six years of recession, has according to all indicators reached its breaking point.
We will need courage and consensus at home as well as support and encouragement from outside so that 2014 can be the year that Greece finally sees its way out of the woods.
May this year bring more courage and optimism. Greece will make it.
