Macedonia, however, continues to exit for the 18th month now. Indeed, it did face numerous difficulties, but they were all bellow Greece's expectations. At the same time, Greece began to feel the consequences of its own embargo. The Salonika port, as certain top officials in Greece now admit themselves, is almost fully closed. Trade in Greece's northern parts has almost ceased.
Tourist resorts are half empty.
Greece has a ruling party whose inner splits are no longer hidden from the eyes of the public. It has a main opposition party that is no less disturbed by inner schisms. In other words, there is simply no political power or individual in Greece at present that could bravely and pragmatically admit to the mistake and cut the knot with which it tied its own hands. One can only hope things will not be delayed for so long. Today's countries are yet too dependent upon each other and interests are intermingled, and the behavior of the states, regardless of their power, by no means depend on themselves alone.