Holding Iran-US Negotiations in Athens
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
For years, the Greek foreign policy of the memorandum and post-memorandum governments has needed a reboot. Heterogeneous and inadequate it has become essentially non-existent, unable to carry out its main mission, i.e. the defense of Greek sovereign rights and the promotion of the geopolitical surplus value of its position. The time has come, especially with the current emergence of the new multipolar world constituting a first-class opportunity, for Greece to exercise foreign policy according to manly standards.
Until now Greek foreign policy has been minimalist and unimaginative. It is possessed by the phobic syndrome of taking initiatives in order to “not displease NATO allies and European partners”. Athens looks to them for a nod, an approval of the “pillar of stability” type. And that is where diplomatic initiatives and ambitions run out without a collective vision of creative and constructive actions aimed at defending peace, international law in combination with the well-intentioned common interest of our people.
Therefore, high-profile initiatives are needed in the direction of diplomatic activation in order to highlight our constructive role for regional security and peace. Such actions are the so-called bridging ones, e.g. the undertaking of mediation initiatives to resolve crises, initiatives that are comparatively low risk and high profit for Greece. Chronic issues, such as the Palestinian issue and Iran’s nuclear program, are illustrative cases.
In order to undertake mediation, a basic prerequisite is that Greece has good relations and credibility with both sides. As negotiations between Iran and the US are underway in Oman and Italy, the question arises as to why Greece has not canvassed both sides to host some of these meetings in Athens. Having historically had excellent relations with Tehran, Athens, as a major NATO ally, is in a position to play an essential and constructive role in the prospect of concluding an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. The question is commonly asked: “why Rome and not Athens?”
As the Iranian-American negotiations are well underway, there is still time for Athens to take a diplomatic initiative to host part of the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. Such an initiative would be welcomed by Iranians and Americans, while some of Greece’s neighbors would feel uncomfortable with the upgraded diplomatic profile of the country as a result of such initiatives.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
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