Ten years after the critical July of 2015, the Angela Merkel A central person in the management of the Greek crisis as a Chancellor of Germany admired the Greeks who withstand 60 euros in ATMs, retrospectively at the highlights of the “Greek drama” and referred to faces and situations discussing with the director of Kathimerini, Alexis Papachala, the ”
Merkel stressed that she would not ask the average Greek “apology”. “I could not imagine the European Union without Greece,” he noted characteristically, pointing out his great efforts to persuade Schoeble who wanted to get Greece out of the euro area. “I was calling him an hour and informed him,” said the former German Chancellor who described as the most unnecessary moment of the political career as the time when the Alexis Tsipras She informed her by phone about referendum.
“It was the most unexpected and the most silent of my career,” Merkel said characteristically, adding: “Then we realized that if” no “prevails, it means exit the euro. We could not decide on a democratic country. “
Merkel also talked about the impressions of her the first time that Alexis Tsipras visited Berlin as prime minister but also about the talks he had with George Papandreou and Antonis Samaras, the pressure exerted by Obama, from which he had been putting her by “Deal”.
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I looked like the evil I used to say “I can’t give money”
“In February 2010 it was made clear that the problem was really big. I was told that Greece needed money, ”Ms Merkel said, adding that with the” non -rescue clause “in the euro,” I could not give money. “
I asked him George Papandreou“What do you want?” And he replied, “Nothing.” At the meeting the Greek prime minister was silent, we were discussing strongly and I looked like the evil I said “I can’t give money”. European Council President Herman Van Robai has stopped the meeting and wrote some phrases – “Greece will do what we need, we will support and the euro is our common currency.”
“I decided in 2011 that it had to be done what was going through our hands to stay in the euro area,” Ms Merkel said, adding that “the negotiations were very difficult after his referendum. Alexis Tsipras.
Knowing that Schoeble wanted Greece out of the euro, every hour I was calling him and presented the situation because I wanted these decisions to make together with my finance minister, he said.
Referring to Antonis Samaras He noted: “I was the bad cop at that time. I didn’t do anything to bother but because I was of the opinion that the country had to get on the right track.
We were friends at the political level, at a party level, but we had conflicting views many times.
I was on Samarra’s side because I thought it needed a debt haircut (like Schoeble), but Trichet said that if you were doing so the whole financial world would lose his confidence in the euro area. I was of the opinion that I had to discharge Greece from this weight but the other side had arguments.
I was watching Tsipras and I used to say ‘God guard’
Referring to the impressions created by her acquaintance with Alexis Tsipras, Mrs Merkel said:
“I think it wasn’t so impressive for the first time because it was in Brussels. After calling him to Berlin and the atmosphere was tense. He went and saw protesters in a demonstration in front of the Chancellor and greeted his comrades from the party …
I was saying God to guard! We hope it comes for some time. It came for a while and going to his stain I say “bold this” and tells me that one has to deal with his followers.
Growing up we came closer to each other. He considered the privatization of the devil’s things, it wasn’t easy …
The 17 -hour negotiation
“I didn’t want to leave the euro and he (Tsipras) did not want a memorandum. It was the most unexpected phone call I had throughout my political career and one of the most silent phone calls, “the former Chancellor said of how Tsipras informed her that she would go to a referendum.
A few hours earlier, Tsipras had refused to say “yes” to the agreement with the lenders.
Merkel asked him what he would do and Tsipras replied: “I’ll be back to my country and talk to my government and the party”
And what will be the result? Merkel asked
I don’t know it, Tsipras replied.
The result of that debate in Athens was the referendum. And what is your recommendation? Merkel asked Tsipras.
But of course no, Tsipras replied
“There I lost my voice,” Merkel said.
Very quickly then we finished the phone call. Hollande tells me: And now?
If it were “no”, we said that it means leaving the euro, Greece did not agree and we said that a democracy could not decide for everyone else.
The former Chancellor then referred to what happened after the referendum – even reiterating her pleasure on the high level of the Greek team that agreed in the 3rd Memorandum.
“I put the crying, I experienced great pressure”
“Obama did not know the legal part well, the goals of the ECB. The US Federal Bank has other responsibilities. Obama didn’t know everything, at some point I was crying, I had pressure.
He wanted to tell the ECB to give more fluid. My consultants told me that I couldn’t do that, it wouldn’t even be accepted by the German courts and I had said that to Obama.
Draghi, as president of the ECB, “created the bazooka” and said the whatver it takes. He did it on his own. “
Migration – The situation was dramatic in Greece
There were 10,000 new refugees everyday whenever I had to do.
We could prevent refugees from Austria to Germany but that was not enough. That is why I was in favor of the European Union – Turkey Plan. The situation in Greece was dramatic. Turkey did nothing.
95% of refugees did not enter the EU. In return, Turkey got money. It was a very great pressure at that time.
They called me to Constantinople, I went to those palaces, the chairs very impressive, but I had to do something. Politics is real politik, I was obliged to talk to Erdogan.
I am glad that Europe has progressed and has developed a common European asylum system. Those who have not received asylum must be returned to their countries. The goals to fight the traffickers are of course right.
The crisis with Turkey
“We always have to talk to our neighbors.
Especially our maritime borders cannot be protected only with Frontex.
If a Greek -Turkish episode was dismissed? Yes there were tensions many times we tried to mediate
In the conversations they understood the amount difficult was to find common places
Because the climate between Greece and Turkey was quite aggressive sometimes.
I tried to contribute but only in half steps we can make it
Putin, the USSR and the War in Ukraine
For Putin, the dissolution of the USSR was the worst event of the 20th century and I told him that for me it was the most enjoyable of my life. Our angles were completely different. Putin still has this idea that Russia must influence these states (Ukraine and Belarus). From the point of view of international law what he did in February 2022 is to violate all terms of international law.
I was, together with Sarkozy, to NATO’s enlargement to Ukraine and Georgia -in Bucharest in 2008.
Russia does not disappear from the map and is the largest nuclear power in the world, I cannot ignore this.
We want a partnership with Russia and we made this effort. With the invasion in February 2022 we have a new era.
I have nothing to do with Putin (now). We have always had great disagreements but in the case of Crimea he told me 1-2 times lies and that changed our relationship.
For Trub everything is a … deal
“Trump was voted on by the American people we have to deal with him. And we Europeans are an entity, do not underestimate you.
Everything is a deal for him.
This is not what the world works.
It is rather very difficult to achieve in common results – with Trump
It’s not good news, I’m convinced of it.
He always thought of something to draw everyone’s attention.
I made the mistake and said: Donald we have to give our hands but it didn’t. He was always trying to distract and everyone to look at him. “
I was impressed that the Greeks withstand 60 euros, the Germans would not stand up
Asked “what would you say to the average Greek today if you found him on the street?”, He replied: Sorry I wouldn’t ask, I presented my motives. I would say a lot, I can’t imagine the EU. Without Greece.
“I really impressed me (the endurance of Greek society), because then, at that most difficult time with the referendum, people could only get only 60 euros from the bank. I used to say that the Germans wouldn’t stand it … “
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