Grasping the moment

Been a while now that I haven t properly posted an article or pictures, but now that I have had time to look thoroughly at my new host country, Greece, I am ready to speak out... You might or might not know that Greece is one of the "best student" in the EU classroom. GDP reaching above 4.6% (double the average of most EU mammuth) and a budget deficit below 3% as agreed during the stability and growth pact within the [Maastricht] treaty framework. This very academic statement has the purpose of underlying one thing... The EU taxpayers' money has been used extensively in Greece, and since the entrance of Romania and Bulgaria in the family, Greece's prospects regarding future investments in South East Europe are looking bright. On the tourism side, Greece is practically virgin... I know it must sound surprising, but if you are already planning your retirement, I would seriously look at buying a blue and white house on one of the 2005 islands that form the Hellenic Republic.

One particular topic has nowadays attracted my attention, it is the extremely complex love-hate relationship between Greece and Turkey. The two nations have confronted their views and political interests, both thriving to increase their landbank for a few yards in Cyprus, and we still regularly read in the local press that clashes do happen between their respective armforces. Historically, relations with neighbouring Greece have known periods of tension. The long divided island of Cyprus and the disputes over the air and sea boundaries of the Aegean Sea remain the main issues of disagreement between the two neighbours. Recently, the issue of Cyprus has become one of the main points of contention in Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU since Turkey is refusing to open its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic. Nonetheless, following the consecutive earthquakes of 1999 in Turkey and Greece, and the prompt response of aid and rescue teams from both sides, the two nations have entered a much more positive period in their relations, with Greece actively supporting Turkey's candidacy to enter the European Union.In opposition, at the same time, Turkey has now become for the past 3-5 years a partner of choice for banks, construction and manufacturing companies. The relatively untapped turkish market of 71 million is naturally attracting large Greek corporations which see now that, beyond their mere political conflict, lies a great deal of business opportunities. On a more human note, Greeks greatly appreciate travelling to Turkey and, according to most, feel extremely welcome.


This just make me wonder to what extent the great Corporation, which is so often criticized for "levelling" societies and cultures, could not be used as a PRIME tool for bringing conflicting parties back to the negociation table...