By Vassilis Kostoulas
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@VasKostoulas
Europe’s Mediterranean region cannot be transformed into a “northern Europe” model, former German foreign minister and Green Party leader Joschka Fischer emphasized this week, in an exclusive interview with “N”.
He added that this “misunderstanding” caused Germany to lose time and money over the years since the crisis hit several EU countries, especially Greece.
Fischer added that whether Greece was ready or not to enter the common currency is now a merely history.
“Today, it (Greece) is in and the cost of a Grexit would be higher due to the country’s very significant geopolitical position,” he said.
The influential German lawmaker noted that the Greek issue remains a thorny subject for German public opinion, nevertheless noting that last week’s decision by the Eurogroup is a positive development.
“It (decision) continues to buy time … but balances the interests of all sides … and contains elements for a viable final agreement,” he stressed.
Asked about Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ controversial quip about his and his leftist party’s “illusions” before assuming power, the former German minister merely reflected on his own “radical” political past, albeit with a crucial difference. Earlier in the month from Parliament’s podium, Tsipras had referred to possible “illusions” in deflecting sharp opposition criticism that he and the SYRIZA party repeatedly lied to Greek citizens before the January 2015 election.
“I also arrived (on the political spectrum) from the outside, with many illusions, but I had the privilege of losing them before I even entered office.”
Queried on Berlin’s strategic position vis-à-vis the Greek issue at present, and after seven years of crisis, he said:
“…Greece is something that is a ‘difficult’ sell in Germany. I will not avoid saying this. It is truly difficult to tell every worker, employee or whatever that Greece needs (our) strong solidarity. I believe this is where the wisdom of the last agreement lies. It balances, nicely, the interests of all sides.”
Beyond Greece, Fischer said he is “holding his fingers crossed” as far as the referendum in late June on Britain’s continued EU membership, warning that a “Brexit” would be catastrophic for the United Kingdom and lead to a severe crisis in the EU.
Moreover, he appeared concerned over the rise of nationalism in Europe, while at the same time calling for cooperation and the guarding of national borders against the threat of terrorism.
Finally, he advised good relations Turkey, on the part of the EU, based on a policy of “realpolitik”, as he said.
