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RUSSIAN TOURISTS ARE POURING INTO GREECE. INVESTORS MAY FOLLOW
http://www.economist.com/node/21552240
An orthodox friendship
Apr 7th 2012 | ATHENS | from the print edition
WITH anti-German feelings among Greeks running at a post-war high,
fewer German tourists are likely to visit the Aegean islands this
summer. Many local hoteliers would almost certainly go bust were it
not for the increasing number of Russians who are coming to Greece,
thanks to more relaxed visa regulations. About 1m Russian holidaymakers
are expected to visit Greece this year, double the number in 2010.
Many Russians are spending lavishly and buying second homes in the
Halkidiki district in northern Greece, a favourite beach destination.
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president-elect, is a familiar visitor to
Mount Athos, a nearby enclave of Orthodox monks. He may even attend
Orthodox Easter festivities there on April 15th. Abbot Ephraim of the
Vatopedi monastery enjoyed a warm official reception in Moscow last
year despite facing investigation at home for alleged involvement
in a land-swap scandal. Romfea, a Greek website specialising in
ecclesiastical news, receives Russian funding, say grateful acolytes.
Where tourists and politicians lead, money may follow. Greece's
cash-strapped government is rushing to privatise various public
utilities, including DEPA, the state gas group. Gazprom, Russia's
state-backed giant, has expressed an interest in adding DEPA to its
growing portfolio of international interests. DEPA already buys much
of its gas from Gazprom, and one of its subsidiaries has signed up
to join South Stream, a Russian project to pipe gas to central Europe
via the Black Sea. There is also talk about stationing Russian naval
vessels in Piraeus, Athens's main port. Russia is worried about losing
access to Syrian naval bases if mounting violence brings down Bashar
Assad, the president.
Still, Antonis Samaras, Greece's probable next prime minister, shows
few signs of being tempted by either deal. His centre-right New
Democracy (ND) party is forecast to win a general election expected
in early May, although it is likely to fall short of an overall
majority. Mr Samaras has made a pre-election trip to Moscow, but
enthusiasm failed to ignite on either side. His advisers say their
Harvard-educated boss would prefer to improve ties with America and
to sell the gas utility to an investor from the European Union.
But as Greek politics becomes more unstable-as many as nine parties
could win seats in the next parliament, not all of them with savoury
views-there is still plenty of room for Russian influence-mongering.
Panos Kammenos, a former ND deputy who opposes austerity and admires
Mr Putin, says Greece should turn to Russia if, as expected, it needs
yet another bail-out. (Russia has already lent Cyprus [email protected] billion,
or $3.3 billion, to avert the island's default.) Mr Kammenos's new
party, Independent Greeks, is predicted to sweep into parliament
with around 10% of the vote. He is hoping to replace Abbot Ephraim
as Russia's best friend in Greece.
http://www.economist.com/node/21552240
An orthodox friendship
Apr 7th 2012 | ATHENS | from the print edition
WITH anti-German feelings among Greeks running at a post-war high,
fewer German tourists are likely to visit the Aegean islands this
summer. Many local hoteliers would almost certainly go bust were it
not for the increasing number of Russians who are coming to Greece,
thanks to more relaxed visa regulations. About 1m Russian holidaymakers
are expected to visit Greece this year, double the number in 2010.
Many Russians are spending lavishly and buying second homes in the
Halkidiki district in northern Greece, a favourite beach destination.
Vladimir Putin, Russia's president-elect, is a familiar visitor to
Mount Athos, a nearby enclave of Orthodox monks. He may even attend
Orthodox Easter festivities there on April 15th. Abbot Ephraim of the
Vatopedi monastery enjoyed a warm official reception in Moscow last
year despite facing investigation at home for alleged involvement
in a land-swap scandal. Romfea, a Greek website specialising in
ecclesiastical news, receives Russian funding, say grateful acolytes.
Where tourists and politicians lead, money may follow. Greece's
cash-strapped government is rushing to privatise various public
utilities, including DEPA, the state gas group. Gazprom, Russia's
state-backed giant, has expressed an interest in adding DEPA to its
growing portfolio of international interests. DEPA already buys much
of its gas from Gazprom, and one of its subsidiaries has signed up
to join South Stream, a Russian project to pipe gas to central Europe
via the Black Sea. There is also talk about stationing Russian naval
vessels in Piraeus, Athens's main port. Russia is worried about losing
access to Syrian naval bases if mounting violence brings down Bashar
Assad, the president.
Still, Antonis Samaras, Greece's probable next prime minister, shows
few signs of being tempted by either deal. His centre-right New
Democracy (ND) party is forecast to win a general election expected
in early May, although it is likely to fall short of an overall
majority. Mr Samaras has made a pre-election trip to Moscow, but
enthusiasm failed to ignite on either side. His advisers say their
Harvard-educated boss would prefer to improve ties with America and
to sell the gas utility to an investor from the European Union.
But as Greek politics becomes more unstable-as many as nine parties
could win seats in the next parliament, not all of them with savoury
views-there is still plenty of room for Russian influence-mongering.
Panos Kammenos, a former ND deputy who opposes austerity and admires
Mr Putin, says Greece should turn to Russia if, as expected, it needs
yet another bail-out. (Russia has already lent Cyprus [email protected] billion,
or $3.3 billion, to avert the island's default.) Mr Kammenos's new
party, Independent Greeks, is predicted to sweep into parliament
with around 10% of the vote. He is hoping to replace Abbot Ephraim
as Russia's best friend in Greece.