Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-07-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] President Papoulias appeals to int'l diplomacy to end violence in Middle East

[02] Papandreou in Rome for talks with Prodi, D'Alema

[01] President Papoulias appeals to int'l diplomacy to end violence in Middle East

Addressing a reception Monday evening at the Presidential Monsion marking the 32nd anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece on July 24, 1974, the president said that "after World War Two the international community hoped that the logic of collective punishment would never return. Each child, each non-combatant killed, each refugee is not simply a number in the list of victims, but a burden on our conscience and a guilt for the international diplomacy."

Papoulias also referred to the "Cyprus drama which began with the coup against president Makarios and still persists because of the Turkish occupation which still divides the island." On the occasion, he welcomed at the reception students from two Cypriot high schools.

"The anniversary of the restoration of democracy," Papoulias said, "is of particular importance...It obliges us to a process of political self-criticism, to reflect on the years that elapsed since it occurred until now. We owe to the people that fought against the dictatorship that are either among us now or sorrowfully absent, a sincere and brave criticism on the weaknesses of present-day democracy. For democracy to function correctly, active citizens are needed, with a critical thought and interested in public affairs. The distancing of citizens from public affairs constitutes today one of the main threats against democracy."

The president also referred to educational issues saying that "what we want is an education system which offers equal opportunities to the child of the worker and the child of the industrialist, an education system capable of forging healthy personalities and citizens with ideals and supra-individual goals, who will not seek personal completion through accumulation of consumer goods and material power."

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in a message on Sunday said: "On July 24, 1974, under critical conditions for the country and Hellenism, Constantine Karamanlis and the Government of National Unity, was assuming, with the support of all the democratic citizens and the contribution of all the political forces, the difficult effort for the smooth transition to democracy," Karamanlis said.

"We are celebrating today 32 years of the uninterrupted operation of our democracy. This great achievement is a collective work. We all managed to render the Greek state modern, orderly and well governed. We all managed to get Greece out of isolation and make it a European country, a factor of peace, stability and security in our broader region. An exemplary country for all our neighbours who today follow the course which we first paved," the prime minister added.

"Today, with our consitution consolidated and strong, we Greeks are obliged to follow unswervingly the road which we opened in July 1974. The road of unity and unanimity. Of dialogue, the seeking of common views, of composition and consensus," Karamanlis said.

In his message, Monday, main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou said it was "necessary that Greece becomes powerful again, with strong institutions, development, progress, prosperity and social cohesion, particularly in a period characterised by increased challenges in the broader region with the ongoing war in the Middle East."

"In the years that followed until today, our country had a steadfast democratic course. Our democracy has been consolidated. We have shaped a modern parliamentary democracy with powerful democratic institutions. We have strengthened the prestige and the presence of our country within the European Union and in our region," Papandreou noted.

"The safeguarding of human and social rights, the deepening of democracy, decentralisation, reinforcing local government, the effective participation of citizens, social justice and solidarity and securing our national issues constitute today a demand for the present and the future," the PASOK leader concluded.

In their messages the smaller left-wing parties on Monday stressed that more work needed to be done for greater democratisation, both within and outside Greece.

According to the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the rights of the working class and lower classes were not recognised and even basic rights were "under ruthless attack from the forces of capital and their political parties".

"The conclusion is single and clear: the contemporary needs of the working-lower class family cannot be met in the present sociopolitical framework. An alliance of the working class with the lower classes of the city and village is a necessary prerequisite for overturning imperialist dominion...," a KKE announcement said.

The Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party (SYN) called for the restoration of democracy in international relations, an end to wars, defeat of the imperialist policies of the United States, reduction in regional inequalities and action to deal with the consequences of neoliberal globalisation, to establish and deepen the gains of social democracy, and a rollback of 'anti-terrorist hysteria' among other demands.

[02] Papandreou in Rome for talks with Prodi, D'Alema

The talks will be held in light of an international conference on the war in Lebanon which convenes in the Italian capital on Wednesday.

Earlier apandreou said he would most probably visit war-torn Lebanon soon.

Papandreou made the announcement while addressing a meeting of his party's foreign policy and defence section. A party delegation headed by deputy and doctor Aris Mousionis was expected to depart Monday evening for Lebanon to eveluate the living conditions of war refugees and the situation prevailing in the country's hospitals.

Papandreou, also on Monday, contacted by telephone Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

The PASOK leader reiterated that his party and the SI had from the very beginning called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East. "The attacks against non-combatants and infrastructures cause a humanitarian disaster which goes beyond any right to self-defence," Papandreou said.

"The international community must act immediately and in a resolute manner for peace in the region," he said, reiterating his own, PASOK's and SI's "opposition to a new Iraq".

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