Galery

1

"The cuts of savings of individuals, who have invested in bonds in Greece, is one of the biggest thefts known in European history," the president of the union of individual investors in government bonds Ioannis Marinopoulos told GRReporter. "In Cyprus, the deputies and citizens have not allowed this to happen. They have protected the deposits of ordinary people. In Greece, they have not only accepted the cuts, but they have destroyed 85% of our savings. They have nullified our lives and made pointless the efforts we have been making over the years and now, we can provide neither for our old age nor for our children's future."
  
Although no sharp responses to the financial crises have been observed in Cyprus and the protests in Greece are becoming weaker, the people have changed forever. Some cannot yet believe how one official announcement has completely upturned their lives. Others are already planning to emigrate, as happened in east Europe in the 1990s. The third group takes things as they are and keep walking, hoping that fortune will smile on them.

Three years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a speech by Steve Forbes in Athens on the occasion of the presentation of his new book. This was the first summer of the Greek crisis. While bankers, experts and leaders of international organizations were discussing the possible outcome of the debt crisis, crowds of mad and fierce Greeks were pounding on the walls of the hotel, which is located just in front of parliament. Tear gas and Molotov bombs were falling like a summer hail. Then, Steve Forbes said, "This is a reaction of weak people. Strong people are those who will adapt and find new solutions in the new situation." Our 72-year-old Greek man will not be among them. He is in the ranks of those who will never recover from the crisis.