I follow with attention and interest Greek politicians announcing new austerity measures, new taxes and new warnings almost every day. I also cannot avoid the journalists who, like loyal parrots, shout daily in defense of my rights. I am not an expert, only a simple observer with little life experience. Still, it seems strange to speak of economic destruction and possible bankruptcy in relation to a country as rich as Greece. So many wars would not have taken place in and around Greece if strategic and economic factors did not exist.

We have all recently heard and read about new oil exploration in the Aegean and the immediate reactions of Turkey. Many rushed to assure public opinion that there are no deposits. Even if one were naive enough to believe that Greece has no oil, what are Turkish frigates doing around Kastellorizo, where Turkey has started its own research while attempting to stop ours? Even the United States suddenly showed interest, and NATO became involved. That is a strange interest in "nothing."

Article 106 of the Greek Constitution states clearly that, in order to consolidate social peace and protect the general interest, the state plans and coordinates economic activity, seeking to secure the economic development of all sectors of the national economy. It must take the necessary measures to exploit sources of national wealth, including atmospheric, underground and underwater resources, for regional development and especially for the economy of mountainous, island and border areas.

In December 2009 the prime minister stated that Greece did not have oil, or at least that what had been found was minimal. Yet a report in the hands of former finance minister Evangelos Kouloumpis referred to the Babouras area east of Thasos, parts of which Turkey disputes, and noted confidence in recoverable oil potential estimated at 120 to 200 million barrels, enough to cover a significant part of the country's needs for many years. That deposit alone brought Greece and Turkey close to war in 1976, 1982 and 1987.

This is only one of many locations that remain unexploited. Similar reports for other areas of Greece have stayed in drawers since 1974. One must ask why the state has been indifferent for so many decades and why such profitable resources remain unused, especially during a crisis. And oil is not the only field of indifference.

Research by the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration has confirmed metal reserves worth more than 28 billion euros at current prices, ranking Northern Greece among the richest mineral regions in Europe. The broader Balkan geological arc is known among European geologists for major deposits already exploited in neighboring countries. Turkey has opened gold mines and licensed more. Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo have also moved into research and exploitation. Greece has explored areas in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and there are indications in other regions as well.

Greece is the only country in the world producing huntite, the first producer of perlite, and the second producer of pumice and bentonite. Nevertheless, these resources remain underused at a time when the Greek economy is supposedly searching for recovery.

Recently I read that Greece imports olive oil from Germany, although Germany hardly has the climate for olive trees. It appears that Greek oil is exported at humiliating prices for producers and then imported back at a much higher cost. In 2010, during the crisis, millions were spent importing oil and hundreds of millions importing fish.

Who is accountable in this country? No one. Contrary to the Constitution and contrary to the interests of the country, we have become marionettes of a system that fails to use the wealth it already possesses.