Stravon is a Pontian Greek by birth, peregrinating philosopher, Roman subject, yet
at the core of his interests lie the resilience and the perpetuation of the Hellenic
Republic as the home and the citadel of the Greek nation, in the Mediterranean
and the Diasporas.
The Balkans
There is neither Western Balkans nor Eastern Balkans, as geographical/geopolitical
notions, without accepting its prerequisite, which is the overall notion of the Balkan
Peninsula, in other words Southeastern Europe. Historically, the area has been a
bone of contention between the Ottomans and the Habsburgs, between Russia and
Britain. The key to the Balkan hinterland, western or eastern, the “bottle opener”,
is the city and the harbour of Thessaloniki, the millenary capital of Macedonia,
coveted by powers of the interior and beyond. Whoever ignores the importance of
Thessaloniki, is bound to pay a price.
China’s outlet in Piraeus
Admittedly, time has come to review and survey the magnitude of China s
economic imprint in Europe in general, in Greece in particular. Greece ought to
claim from PR China and COSCO Shipping, controlling the Piraeus Port Authority,
within the rule “Pacta Sunt Servanda”, the fulfilling of all their contractual
obligations. China has been so far a reliable economic and trade partner of Greece.
They must remain so, without strings attached in the political level. In dealing with
the Chinese dragon, Greece got to take seriously into account the American
containment policy of China, the interests of its EU and strategic Mediterranean
partners, which have their vested interests with branches of the Chinese Belt and
Road Initiative (Egypt-Suez Kanal, Israel-port of Haifa). That said, Greece does not
turn a blind eye to China s positioning on the currently de-escalating crisis between
India and Pakistan, in favour of the latter.
India
Greece s traditional friendship with India, is vigorously developing, on the basis of
civilizational affinities going back in the Hellenistic era. Greece strongly supports
the project IMEEC (India-Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor), no matter the
underlying political circumstances. In this context Greece is fully aware that the
Palestinian Question is a major stumbling bloc for blossoming of the ambitious
IMEEC undertaking. STRAVON in its ad hoc transfiguration as KOSMAS the Indian
Sea farer, welcomes increased interaction with India, be it through the Red Sea or
by crossing the Arab lands from the Gulf to the Mediterranean.
Russia/Ukraine and the European Defence
Stravon says that European activism on Ukraine, decoupled from American policy
to contain China (cases in point are the openings to the Arab Gulf monarchies and
the bold new approach of Iran), is ill conceived and he posits that it will miscarry. If
Russia does not cooperate, the blame will fall upon Russia. STRAVON, with wide
knowledge of the Scythian, Khazar and the Kievan Rus history as it fits, argues that
satisfaction of the non-territorial claims of Russia on the Ukrainian space would
considerably ease the strain on Ukraine regarding the territorial clauses of a peace
deal; for doing this it will be indispensable:
– To declare Ukraine a permanently neutral country under international
guarantees to be granted by the permanent UN Security Council members.
The Ukrainian Rada will accordingly vote a new Constitution.
– Fully fledged freedom of religion and ecclesiastical affiliation will be
reinstated, with everything that this implies (return of churches and
convents).
– Russian will be proclaimed parallel state language along with Ukrainian.
– In exchange, there will be no formal annexation of the Russian controlled
territories.
A referendum will be called in Crimea, an autonomous republic, to definitely decide
the fate of the peninsula.
An international UN mandated force will be deployed east of Dniepr river to
monitor the implementation of the peace Treaty.
Progress in the negotiations will greatly ease the intensity of the pressure and the
urgency upon those who work in the sphere of “Re-arm Europe” and SAFE. Peace
might dawn at last.
STRAVON of Amaseia,
Arhens, May 29,2025
