OPINION

Addressing concerns

What exactly happened in Kallithea? Who planted the bombs? Why? And for whom? The authorities are obliged to offer some answers to these questions – some clear and convincing answers. And quickly, too. Those who try to blame the hysterical reactions of the foreign press do not answer any of these questions, they do not solve any real problems and, worst of all, they make us complacent. Perhaps all those involved in organizing the Games were unaware that Athens would be flooded by foreign journalists over this period; that Greece’s image has been tarnished in the international press because nobody bothers to follow developments, offer explanations and ensure that members of the foreign press – and others reporting on Greece during the Olympics – are adequately informed. We often avoid seeing things as they really are. Indeed, it is one thing to disagree with a prevailing opinion, and is quite another to ignore it. For years, our governments did not bother to take the necessary steps to stop domestic terrorism. Then, the November 17 terror group was broken up and our habitual suspicion deserted us just before the Olympics. But the tolerance of domestic terrorism shown by governments over the years continues to concern non-Greeks – and it is a concern that must be addressed…

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