From an open letter published 1/15/15 in Handelsblatt, a leading German language business newspaper, from Alexis Tsipras, head of the leftist Syriza party that garnered a plurality of votes in the recent Greek elections and has formed a coalition government:
…Allow me to submit to you that this sorry attempt to recruit a new version of ‘Greek statistics’, in order to declare the ongoing Greek crisis over, is an insult to all Europeans who, at long last, deserve the truth about Greece and about Europe. So, let me be frank: Greece’s debt is currently unsustainable and will never be serviced, especially while Greece is being subjected to continuous fiscal waterboarding. The insistence in these dead-end policies, and in the denial of simple arithmetic, costs the German taxpayer dearly while, at once, condemning to a proud European nation to permanent indignity. What is even worse: In this manner, before long the Germans turn against the Greeks, the Greeks against the Germans and, unsurprisingly, the European Ideal suffers catastrophic losses.
Germany, and in particular the hard-working German workers, have nothing to fear from a SYRIZA victory. The opposite holds. Our task is not to confront our partners. It is not to secure larger loans or, equivalently, the right to higher deficits. Our target is, rather, the country’s stabilization, balanced budgets and, of course, the end of the grand squeeze of the weaker Greek taxpayers in the context of a loan agreement that is simply unenforceable. We are committed to end ‘extend and pretend’ logic not against German citizens but with a view to the mutual advantages for all Europeans….
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reports:
But Europe has shown no indication that it is even willing to begin talks. For Germany and other northern countries, the issue of Greece’s debt is a long-closed chapter. They insist Greece fulfill its obligations and say they have already done enough. “The real economy hasn’t changed after the elections. The situation is still the same,” said Jyrki Katainene, a former Finnish prime minister who is now vice president for jobs and growth at the EU’s executive arm in Brussels. “I don’t expect that many changes from our part.”
The Wall Street Journal, “Greece Swiftly Reverses Austerity Measures,” 1/29/15
Negotiations are negotiations and positions change, but it sounds like there is a huge distance between Mr. Tsipras and the EU that may not be closed. That is, if there are any negotiations at all.
