AFP, Athens :
In Greece, hospitality is a concept as old as the Acropolis. But the country’s hated creditors cannot expect the usual warm welcome when they arrive this week to thrash out a third huge international bailout.
It has been more than a year since top negotiators from the International Monetary Fund, European Union and European Central Bank-together known as the “troika”-last set foot in Athens, and the symbolism of their return is not lost on Greeks.
The three institutions became a widely loathed emblem of the painful austerity demanded by Greece’s creditors in return for two previous bailouts, cuts many say brought the country’s economy to its knees.
“The troika represents pure brutalisation,” said 28-year-old Marios as he smoked a cigarette in the doorway of his T-shirt shop in central Athens.
“They make these plans that affect our lives,” he said. “But things are getting worse and worse. I don’t know when we’re going to hit the bottom of the barrel. People don’t have work, they don’t have enough to eat.”
In late January a new government led by radical-left party Syriza came to power, with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras vowing to confront the troika and restore “dignity” to Greece.
But six months later, the negotiators are on their way back to discuss a third rescue-worth up to 86 billion euros ($94 billion) — which Athens hopes will prevent it from defaulting on its huge debts and crashing out of the eurozone.
In Greece, hospitality is a concept as old as the Acropolis. But the country’s hated creditors cannot expect the usual warm welcome when they arrive this week to thrash out a third huge international bailout.
It has been more than a year since top negotiators from the International Monetary Fund, European Union and European Central Bank-together known as the “troika”-last set foot in Athens, and the symbolism of their return is not lost on Greeks.
The three institutions became a widely loathed emblem of the painful austerity demanded by Greece’s creditors in return for two previous bailouts, cuts many say brought the country’s economy to its knees.
“The troika represents pure brutalisation,” said 28-year-old Marios as he smoked a cigarette in the doorway of his T-shirt shop in central Athens.
“They make these plans that affect our lives,” he said. “But things are getting worse and worse. I don’t know when we’re going to hit the bottom of the barrel. People don’t have work, they don’t have enough to eat.”
In late January a new government led by radical-left party Syriza came to power, with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras vowing to confront the troika and restore “dignity” to Greece.
But six months later, the negotiators are on their way back to discuss a third rescue-worth up to 86 billion euros ($94 billion) — which Athens hopes will prevent it from defaulting on its huge debts and crashing out of the eurozone.
