Onasagoras: Ouzo diplomacy and halloumi hurdles

In Erdogan's visit to Athens, Mitsotakis asked him - within the framework of Greek hospitality, of course - what they would serve him, and the Turkish President responded, "a small glass of ouzo and a piece of halloumi from the dead zone, thank you."

To annoy him, though, they didn't serve him the ouzo with Greek feta but with Cypriot halloumi! And it's even PDO (better than ROC). Joking aside, this historic visit leaves both reasons for optimism and concerns.

Improving Greek-Turkish relations would undoubtedly be positive for both countries, creating new prospects and opportunities in our region. On the other hand, if the decision is that the Cyprus issue will no longer hinder Greece-Turkey relations, things become clearly more challenging for us. If one links it to pressure from the European Union to lift our veto, then the clouds from the north turn pitch black, and the danger becomes clearer than even a Christodoulides' remark.

A meeting of the EAC unions tomorrow with the threat that if their demands are not met, they will strike and plunge us into darkness. I no longer know how to characterize the behavior of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) and its guilds, as there may not be a word in the Greek language that could convey what the suffering consumer feels. However, I remind the responsible Minister of his commitment to photovoltaics for everyone. Not for 6,000 households. For everyone. And not tomorrow, but yesterday. So that no one can threaten to leave us without electricity. So that decades of impunity come to an end.

Environmental organizations are starting to cry foul over deviations from the agreements on the Akamas road network. The responsible Minister visits the projects and assures us that everything is 'milk and honey', exactly as agreed. The President, in a clear rebuke to the Minister, orders a freeze of the works and an investigation into possible irregularities. The responsible Minister suddenly makes a 180-degree turn and speaks of various mistakes, without, however, naming those responsible or attributing blame to anyone. How should we perceive this, I wonder? Should we consider that he has indirectly, but clearly, taken personal responsibility? Or should we think that, with a blink of the eye, we will hear the classic line "this is Cyprus"?