New perspective
…Today, the government, establishment figures and the more farsighted members of the opposition feel that our relations with Turkey – which have been marked by a long history of confrontation – are getting onto a new track. They all think that the policy of «controlled tension,» which has for decades generated hot incidents, an unfettered arms race and broad-ranging clashes inside international organizations, has to cease. In an era marked by asymmetric threats, globalization, and the promotion of European integration, they believe that any policy that puts emphasis on old alignments and obsolete tactics is fruitless. Officials seem willing to pursue new solutions through policies which until a few years ago would have been denounced as acts of betrayal. They are trying to approach the «beast» through dialogue and attempts to promote mutual understanding. This has met with many reactions which will intensify as the Turkish political elite seems to have trouble adapting to the new situation. It is precisely Turkey’s inherent failure to adapt to this new environment which is Greece’s advantage. But we shall only exploit it successfully if we promote dialogue with seriousness and persistence, thereby depriving Ankara of the ability to engage in machinations and engineer provocations which, as recent historical experience has shown, have always proved to be in favor of the Turkish side.
