Order of the Polar Star

I am not an expert in international relations, much less in Greek-Turkish relations. However, as a historian, I have always been struck by the significant shift in Greek foreign policy with the rise of PASOK to power. These thoughts come to mind whenever I hear commentary on the government's decisions and its reactions to such criticism.

Today, September 3rd, marks 50 years since Andreas Papandreou founded PASOK, a political party that came to play a key role in Greece from the restoration of democracy to the financial crisis.

September 3 will mark 50 years since the founding of socialist PASOK. Much will be written and said about this party - or movement - which dominated Greek politics during the Metapolitefsi period, as well as its founder.

A novel-like journey in public and private television and a particularly close relationship with Andreas Papandreou – Heartfelt messages from television personalities – Malelis: Farewell my dear Tasos, we will meet again

Greek-American relations are experiencing a "golden age" right now, US analyst and senior fellow for national security and international policy at the Center for American Progress think tank Alan Makovsky told Kathimerini in Washington DC recently, sitting at a Foggy Bottom restaurant looking out at the University of Georgetown dorm named after Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

It was June 29, 1982 and Andreas Papandreou had just returned from a fraught European Economic Community summit. The Greek prime minister gave his family a detailed account of what was said during the talks with his European counterparts with regard to the war that was raging in the Middle East at the time.

Narendra Modi's visit to Athens on Friday is especially significant for Greek foreign policy as it is the first official visit by an Indian prime minister to Greece in 40 years. Indira Gandhi, then premier of India, visited Greece in 1983, at the invitation of her counterpart, Andreas Papandreou.

Earlier this week Greece celebrated 49 years since the restoration of democracy after seven years of military dictatorship.

Greece turned a page yesterday. Beyond New Democracy's resounding victory, which is due mainly to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, two big circles came to a close with Sunday's election: the Metapolitefsi and Greece's bankruptcy.

Fatalists, not entirely unjustifiably, might invoke the hapless fate that constantly pursues us.

Every time Greece tries to take a breath and stand on its feet, something happens and it loses its way.