Sapere aude!!

by Vasilis Giavris (Lawyer & Political Scientist)

To become truly free, Greece must free itself from ignorance and from the prevailing indoctrinations which for many decades have been articulated by various socio-political institutions, with the intent of shaping and controlling the Greek people’s destiny. To become truly free, we must become active seekers of knowledge and release ourselves from our self-incurred tutelage. Sapere aude!!

The end of ‘Metapolitefsi’: The need for radical Hellenic change

by Vasilis Giavris (Lawyer & Political Scientist)

On 12 February 2012 a parliamentary majority comprising of 199 Members of the Hellenic Parliament voted yes to the adoption of the second “Mnimonio”. This date marks the end of '"Metapolitefsi" - the end of the post-junta period of Greek history that promised a great deal yet delivered much less.

Not since the Second World War and the Greek Civil War have so many Greek citizens been subjugated and starved. Consecutive Greek governments have failed to do what they were elected to do: to provide economic prosperity and equal opportunity to all Hellenes. The rich and well connected have for many decades benefited enormously whilst the many have been left in the outer.

Reliant on the mercy of corporate fickleness Greece faces today an international delegitimation campaign. How we choose to react to the current developments is pivotal. Sitting idle and complacent is of no benefit.

The survival of Greece and the prosperity of its citizens require us to reform in response to the ills of the moment. In doing so, we must seek the sources and causes of such ills. These are not to be found in cheap rhetoric, racist conspiracy theories and armchair revolutions. They are much deeper. They require careful analysis and relate to our global economic system and the existing socio-political structures in Greece.

Internationally, the unregulated free market has failed. The common good and well being of citizens has been sacrificed in favor of corporate greed and profit. Democracy is challenged by “corporatocracy” whilst the state is challenged by global financial predators. Democratic governments worldwide need to construct a new anthropocentric global financial system that will act as a regulator, guarantor and stabilizer of the global economy. It is imperative that such system ensures an ethical and viable approach to international trade and global economic integration.

In Greece, existing socio-political structures have helped create anti-system attitudes and corrupt practices. We need to acknowledge that adequate health, employment, justice and education were and remain out of reach for ordinary Greek citizens and the poor are increasingly marginalized. As a result, incentives have and continue to be provided for people to attempt to operate outside the system. We need to acknowledge that changing the existing socio-political structures requires painful reformist decisions. Band-aid solutions can no longer suffice.

The adoption of the “Mnimonio” is only the epitaph, the climax in a long and painful cataclysm. We must understand that long before the “Mnimonio” was adopted we, inadvertently, slowly and silently acquiesced to ceding control over our destiny to foreign influences. We did so by becoming complacent, by compromising our morals and our patriotism, by turning a blind eye, by electing corrupt politicians and by seeking personal gain irrespective of the damage caused to the wider community.

For too long the Greek political elite were permitted to operate above the law and enjoy special legal immunities in relation to corruption and criminal matters. This cannot be tolerated any more. We must no longer permit our political and economic leaders to short-change us. Parliamentary immunity must be abolished and there must be equal subjection of all citizens before the ordinary law and courts.

Radical reform is today more then ever necessary. It is only through radical reform that we can re-claim our future. It is only through radical reform and national regeneration that we can redeem our humanity and promise a better future to the generations to follow.

Now is the time to change the trajectory of Greece.

Now is the time to turn a crisis into the mother of true Hellenic change.

Hellenic Diaspora – Every Greek is an Ambassador for Greece!

by Vasilis Giavris (Lawyer & Political Scientist) 

Hellenism finds itself in the midst of a global financial crisis. Greece is experiencing dramatic economic, political and social devastation. Dealing with the existing socio-politico and economic realities and the emerging challenges requires the Hellenic Diaspora not to remain idle and complacent. 

We live in an inter-dependent world in which political, cultural and economic events are interconnected and where emerging global challenges require global analysis, global commitment and a global response. 

Inevitably, the Hellenic Diaspora needs to reassess its future. It must devise a strategy that will secure its presence in a new globalised world by instilling national confidence and investing in technological and educational excellence and in its historical and cultural traditions. 

The Hellenic Diaspora, and the millions of Hellenes that comprise it, are an integral part of Greece and should not be wasted on short sighted foreign policy gains and party political power games. Indeed, a true national Hellenic reconstruction needs to inspire and mobilize the global forces of Hellenism. 

The Hellenic Diaspora needs to stand up and accept that they have a historical and moral obligation to contribute towards a new post-partisan leadership that will champion a new ethos and vision for Hellenism and Greece. 

The Hellenic Diaspora must help motivate, encourage and mobilize the wider Hellenic forces and help create the essential consents and momentum required to enhance the aspirations of Hellenism and Greece in the 21st century. 

The transformation of Greece requires active and dynamic Hellenic citizens of the world, free from introspection, dogmatism, partisanship and corruption. 

It requires every single one of us since: EVERY GREEK IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR GREECE!! 

HELLENIC DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE 

For Hellenism, Transparency and Social Justice 

Please follow follow the HELLENIC DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE @ http://www.facebook.com/groups/155825097778281/

ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ ΓΙΑΒΡΗΣ - Διαφθορά, Μνημόνιο & ΔΝΤ - Part 3 of 3

H «Έξυπνη Οικονομία» και το Δημόσιο Χρέος

Στο 159,1% του ΑΕΠ - το υψηλότερο ποσοστό στην Ευρωζώνη – αυξήθηκε το δημόσιο χρέος της Ελλάδας στο τρίτο τρίμηνο του 2011, σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία της Eurostat. 'Ομως το δημόσιο χρέος, το δημοσιονομικό έλλειμμα και η προσφυγή της Ελλάδος στο Διεθνές Νομισματικό Ταμείο και στα κράτη – μέλη της Ευροζωνης δεν οφείλεται μόνο στη ανικανότητα, την διαφθορά και την φοροδιαφυγή. Μπορεί τα έσοδα του κράτους να βρίσκονται σε πολύ χαμηλό επίπεδο λόγω της φοροδιαφυγής και να αποτελούν ίσως ένα από τα βασικά αίτια του ελλείμματος στη Ελλάδα αλλά δεν είναι τα μοναδικά. 

Η ελληνική οικονομία δεν παράγει όσο θα έπρεπε. Στηρίζεται σχεδόν αποκλειστικά στην κατανάλωση και σε διάφορες μη παραγωγικές δαπάνες και επιδοτήσεις, οι οποίες - απ' ότι φαίνεται - δεν έχουν στο παρελθόν πιάσει τόπο.

Η Ελλάδα πρέπει να θέση ως στόχο την δημιουργία μιας «Έξυπνης Οικονομίας». Πρέπει να αυξήσει την παραγωγικότητας της. Εκτός από τον τουρισμό πρέπει να χρηματοδοτήσει και να επενδύσει στην καινοτομία και στις νέες τεχνολογίες. Πρέπει να θέσει ως στόχο την δημιουργία μιας οικονομίας όπου ο Έλληνας κατασκευάζει και εξάγει προϊόντα που έχει σχεδιάσει ο ίδιος.

Στη σύγχρονη οικονομία, ίσως το μεγαλύτερο μέρος της παραγωγής αποτελείται από την επεξεργασία πληροφοριών. Ακόμη και πολύ παραδοσιακές εργασίες τώρα εξαρτώνται σε μεγάλο βαθμό από την επεξεργασία της πληροφόρησης. Η Ελλάδα πρέπει να επενδύσει στην εκπαίδευση και στο ανθρώπινο δυναμικό της. Μόνο ένα άρτια εκπαιδευμένο εργατικό δυναμικό μπορεί να ανταποκριθεί στις ανάγκες του 21 αιώνα. Χωρίς αυτό δεν πρόκειται να υπάρξει βελτίωση της παραγωγικότητας και της Ελληνικής οικονομίας.

Βέβαια όλα αυτά χρειάζονται τολμηρές και σαρωτικές αλλαγές και μεταρρυθμιστική πολιτική. Χρειάζεται μια τολμηρή και αποφασιστική Ελληνική κυβέρνηση... εύχομαι να προκύψει...

Βασίλης Θεοδοσίου Γιαβρής
Δικηγόρος & Πολιτικός Επιστήμονας

Περιμένοντας τους "Βαρβάρους"...

Η άρθρωση ενός πειστικού οράματος για το μέλλον της Ελλάδος αποτελεί προϋπόθεση για να βγει η χώρα μας από την κρίση. Μια κρίση πρωτίστως κοινωνική, μια κρίση αξιών. Αυτό το όραμα, ικανό να ευαισθητοποιεί και να κινητοποιεί το σύνολο της Ελληνικής κοινωνίας, πρέπει να πηγάζει από την έντονη επιθυμία για αξιοπιστία, την καταπολέμηση της διαφθοράς, την εξυγίανση του πολιτικού και οικονομικού συστήματος, τον σεβασμό των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων ΚΑΙ την προστασία των κυριαρχικών μας δικαιωμάτων.

Δεν γίνεται να περιμένουμε τους ‘βαρβάρους’...

Δεν αποτελούν αυτοί μια κάποια.. [σωστή] λύση...

Βασίλης Θεοδοσίου Γιαβρής

Δικηγόρος & Πολιτικός Επιστήμονας

Jurisdictional Immunities of the State (Germany v. Italy: Greece intervening)

* by Vasilis Giavris - Lawyer & Political Scientist

On 3 February 2012 the International Court of Justice in Hague (ICJ) delivered its decision in the matter of the Jurisdictional Immunities of the State (Germany v. Italy:  Greece intervening).

The ICJ was asked to adjudicate on the issue of “whether Germany is legally entitled to immunity before the Italian domestic courts with respect to the conduct of its armed forces in the course of the armed conflict”. 

The case was brought to the ICJ as a result of Italian Courts upholding judgments brought in Italian and Greek Courts against Germany by Italian and Greek citizens in relation to specific atrocities and violations of international humanitarian law committed against Italian and Greek citizens by the German army during the Second World War.

The Decision

By fourteen votes to one, the ICJ decided that Italy violated its obligation to respect the immunity which Germany enjoys under international law by declaring enforceable in Italy decisions of Greek courts based on violations of international humanitarian law committed in Greece by Germany.

The Court declared that Italy:

• violated the jurisdictional immunity which Germany enjoys under international law by allowing civil claims based on violations of international humanitarian law by the Germany between 1943 and 1945; and

• Italy has also committed violations of the immunity owed to Germany by declaring enforceable in Italy Greek judgments based on occurrences similar to those referred to above.

Important Exceptions

German Conduct

It should be noted that this case did not concern itself with the conduct of Germany’s armed forces during the Second World War or Germany’s international responsibility for such conduct.  It specifically dealt with the legal issue of state immunity and whether under international customary law Germany is legally entitled to immunity before the Italian domestic courts with respect to the conduct of its armed forces in the course of the armed conflict. 

German Occupation Loan from Greece

This decision did not deal with and should not be confused with the German Occupation loan obtained by means of duress by Germany from Greece in 1942. The loan was forced on Greece by Germany during the Second World War in order to partially fund the German occupation of Greece but primarily to fund the German war machine. 

Greece must not abandon its demands and must insist that Germany honors its international legal and moral obligations in respect of such loan.

A copy of the full court decision can be obtained from: 

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/143/16899.pdf