APOGEVMATINI, 03.03.2010

NANA MOUSKOURI: "I even think to return the money I received since January!"

"It’s been quite a long time that I’ve been thinking of renouncing the pension. I’m sorry I didn’t do it earlier…When we arrived to the point that wages had to be cut down, then I said to myself, the pension I receive from the State due to my 5 year term at the European Parliament, should be cut down as well. And if things get worse, I even thing to return the money I received since January."

Nana Mouskouri represents the purest and the most solider face of the society. She refuses to be called politician; she says about herself that she’s just a simple Greek, even though we all know that she’s the most genuine ambassador of Greece’s modern culture to the whole world.

Nana Mouskouri talked to our newspaper in the frame of her trip to Athens coming from Switzerland, where she lives permanently. Her views sound wise but mostly human.

What was the ultimate moment when you thought about giving up your pension?

I remember during the elections campaign (in September 2009) I went to listen to Kostas Karamanlis, who was saying that the economic situation was very bad. I could never imagine that things were so bad…Now, I know perfectly well that there are people who deserve to get a rise in their salary and others who cannot afford losing the 14th salary! There are people who cannot live without their salary and others who have a little bit more or some extra money. There must be harmony and our state must survive! My gesture was completely moral, much more patriotic and social rather than politic! You know, in life I had the chance to learn to accept bad things just as much as good things. We all have to learn how to share things in a proper way.

So, this decision of yours can serve as an example…

Politicians – I am not a politician, I became one by accident – have bigger responsibilities, since they are the administrators. What happened is just not fair for the people! It’s a moral and an economic injustice for Greeks !

My gesture is symbolic also towards fellow European citizens who are not well informed about us. I cannot stand that situation for our country, because we don’t deserve it. Of course, there is always someone to blame….and actually we are all responsible for what is going on…

You have been living for decades now at the heart of Europe, have ever felt that sense of disbelief against Greeks before?

No! At this extent never before, and this is why we are all worried now. This recession has stricken all European countries and lead to the fact that our economic figures are monitored more closely; this is how they found out in Europe that there have been a few, most unfortunate moments during which our country did hide the truth in its reports about our economic situation. Now everybody expects that there is a right solution for our country. I know it’s very hard what is happening to us right now but in someway it’s done to calm down Europeans as well.

Do you think we’ll manage to show our European partners a reliable face?

I’m always optimistic. I believe everyone will understand how we can all help before this present danger. It may seem that Germany and France do not want to help, in fact they do, but they expect to see from us a correct move. I am talking like ordinary people do, from what I hear from the people and from what I read in the papers.

You know, sometimes I laugh when I listen to Mrs. Merkel, whom I like very much and Mr. Sarkozy – they both grew up with my songs – talking to me about Greece with the best words, despite the fact that today they critise a lot saying Greece is a bad pupil. We can prove that from now on we’ll be "good pupils".

Do you have a comment on the aggressive even offensive articles about our country in the European press?

Europeans are informed in a very wild way! There is no chance you turn on a radio in France, Germany, Belgium or England without hearing about the Greek Problem; in jeopardy is also Spain, Portugal and Italy. A few days ago was published in the French newspaper "Le canard enchaîné" a caricature with the greek prime minister with nobody willing to help him under the title "Europe doesn’t want to help eternal Greece". And below his thoughts: "It doesn’t matter! We’ll sell to China the Parthenon, moussaka and Nana Mouskouri!"…I laughed….but my laughter was bitter…Because placing me next to the Parthenon, this is offensive for the Parthenon. In the meanwhile the cover of Focus was horrible. Those journalists expose their own country like this. Because maybe today many think that Germany doesn’t love Greece, but the truth is that Germans are amongst Greece’s dearer friends. It was the Germans, long before the French, that gave me a huge success which I hold until today.

Did you have a telephone conversation or a meeting with the Finance Minister?

No. I sent the letter and nobody rang me. Never mind, they have so many troubles right now…We are all anxious what is going to happen next. But I am optimistic that they will support us and we won’t let anyone down.

What do you think about young people today compared with your time?

Life today is far more difficult than it was for us, the War Generation! The world used to be innocent and there was a need to rebuild, since there was nothing and so we had to look for a future. Today everything seems so troubled and hostile. Young people don’t seem to have the choice to find their way. In some way life doesn’t give the chance to use it the way they’d like. We don’t give our children moral directions. There is no respect, as it used to, there is recognition of individual value. The children don’t grow up with protection and Love from their parents and the ones around them. Personally I grew up with lots of respect for the church, for my homeland, my family, my friends. When I was little I used to listen to elder people, now that I’m old I listen to young ones. Only this way I can always learn new things.

Where are you now from an artistic point of view?

Since 2008 I have decided not to tour anymore not because I was tired, but because the future belongs to young people. I have shown the Greece I lived, nowadays there are many young Greeks who can show their Greece. Then, I’ve always felt a great responsibility about my singing. Over the years I feared that I might not be as good phonetically and musically as I was. Not that I’ll stop recording. I’ve got some great ideas but I haven’t made up my mind yet. Also I am still involved with humanitarian as UNICEF good will ambassador. I give lectures to universities about music and social matters that I like to discuss with young people. I was looking to step out of touring for a bit to see how real life is today and how I could be of use.

Translation from Greek: Thanasis