Andreas Psicharis stands by the “symbolic importance” of Bartholomew’s visit to Athens, calling it a “prominent personality”who can act as a “link” with Angara.

At the same time, commenting on the crisis in the Middle East, he called on the parties involved to “stop ostrichism” and reach an “honourable peace for both sides”.

How do you assess the Ecumenical Patriarch’s visit as well as his historic speech to the Greek Parliament?

Let’s not state the obvious – the symbolic importance is enormous. Not only of His Holiness’ prominent personality, but for the position and role of Orthodoxy internationally – at a time when there is a strong challenge from the Moscow Patriarchate and Russia to his role and his ecumenicalism. At the same time, it is also a link between us and Turkey and President Erdogan should look at this more creatively.

However, absences were also noted…

You are referring to Mr. Velopoulos apparently. You would have to ask him. But I will answer somewhat differently. Many argue for a close relationship and an alliance with the “blonde genus”. Let them look back in history and they will find that it never helped us in anything – on the contrary, it rather looked after the opposite interests: close alliance with Turkey, helping Tito to set up the Macedonian issue, being one of the first countries to recognize “Macedonia”, for example. Are they enough?

Lately Turkey has been escalating its rhetoric against both Athens and against Cyprus and Israel. What do you think is the reason for Ankara’s irritation?

Nervousness. Related. A thousand times President Erdogan too Cheiler. Given that Turkey is not going to move to another geographical location, I think we should get along and have a peaceful, creative and commercial symbiosis. And let some psecs not be prompted to talk about concessions – I’m talking about honest and acceptable agreements between two states that have more to gain from cooperation than from continued conflict.

The Middle East rift is testing the balance in the wider region. What is Russia’s role on the diplomatic chessboard?

It is testing the economic balance. Shell, for example, announced a $1.5 billion increase in profits over the same period last year. Not bad for Shell, of course. A war has begun that if it doesn’t lead to a complete overthrow of the regime, then we’re pretty much back to the situation before it started. Maybe both sides should stop the ostrichism? But peace, to last, must be honourable for both sides. As for Russia’s role, it is getting smaller every day.As long as big Russia can’t win Ukraine it demonstrates something Pangalos said about clay feet.

Do you see surprises and a change in the political scene with the two new parties, Tsipras and Karistianou?

Let’s start with the wannabe politician, Ms Karystianou. Once you enter the political arena, we naturally forget the personal stuff. A political “lie”it is, in my political experience – and if I were in the position of a serious political party, I would refuse any dialogue with her. The only political opinions I’ve heard are about abortion consultation and about murderers. The first one offends me immensely, not because I have a daughter, but because it questions the self-evident right of a woman to define her own body and the right steps that Western society has taken. Calling the Prime Minister a murderer is immoral and criminally reprehensible. So Mr. Mitsotakis woke up one morning and devised a plan with will and deceit to make the Tempi happen? Let’s get serious. Reminds me of other sprays calling us traitors in 2012. We shouldn’t enter into a dialogue with them, but the citizens have a responsibility not to send darkies to parliament.

Mr Tsipras is a different case. For all his faults, he holds a fascination for a section of the public and has identified a gap in the centre-left that will either be filled by PASOK or a new party. But, like PASOK, Tsipras is committing communication mistakes.

Andreas Psicharis is a former New Democracy MP and career diplomat, a business consultant and communications expert, owner of the consulting firm Hachi Consulting.