Address: 1, Eleftherias Sq. 105 53 ñ ATHENS GREECE Tel.: (+30) 210 3378400 Fax: (+30) 210 3217 003, 3219 121 SYNASPISMOS E-mail: [email protected] COALITION OF THE LEFT AND PROGRESS-GREECE Visit our Website: www.syn.gr INTERNATIONAL No 30, MAY- JUNE 2003 SYNASPISMOS European Programmatic Congress Party of Party title amended to the Left "Coalition of the Left of the Movements and Ecology" SYNASPISMOS held an important programmatic congress in the Left" (KEDA) Yiannis Theonas (former KKE MEP), S. Athens on 30, 31 May and 1 June 2003. The congress Martalis (DEA), Th. Tsikas (AEKA), E. Yianniris (Ecologists – he process for the creation of a discussed and approved the guidelines for a new party Greens), R. Rinaldi (KOE), Y. Felekis ("Spartakos"), S. European Party of the Left was programme which will be further elaborated and to this end a Papadopoulos (OKDE), T. Fotopoulos (Communist T launched on 22 March 2003 with a decision was taken for the creation of a "programmatic Renewal), P. Toumbanis – Vovos (Social and political rights meeting in Athens hosted by SYNASPISMOS. council". A proposal submitted by the SYN President N. network). At the end of the meeting the following press Costantopoulos and the Political Secretariat to amend the Continued on Page 2 release was issued: title of the party was also approved and consequently the full name of SYNASPISMOS is now "Coalition of the Left of the Following an invitation by SYNASPISMOS, Movements and Ecology" instead of "Coalition of the Left representatives of AKEL, PDS, PCF, PRC, IU and Progress". and the hosts met in Athens on the 22nd of March to exchange views on the issue of the The congress was opened with a speech by the SYN creation of a political entity of the European President N.Costantopoulos followed by greetings from Left. representatives of the entire political spectrum. In particular PASOK was represented by its Secretary Costas Laliotis, In a thorough discussion, the above parties Nea Dimokratia by its parliamentary spokesman Dimitris converged in the view that it is necessary to Sioufas, DIKKI by G. Papassimos. In addition all the currents enhance the co-operation among the left of the left and ecology were represented (with the exception parties of Europe and upgrade this co- of the C.P. of Greece, which was invited but did not attend), operation on the basis of a political platform with Manolis Glezos, secretary of AKOA Yiannis Banias, capable to correspond to our immediate and representative of the "Movement for the Unity in Action of strategic tasks in this critical period. The parties consider as a positive step the continuation and promotion of this effort, by constituting an Initiative Group, which will start a process of preparation for the creation of a Party of the European Left. This process will be open to all parties of the Left which are FOR A DIFFERENT EUROPE willing to participate in it. Social movements meet and demostrate in Thessaloniki The six parties underlined the importance of the multiform anti-war movement as well as of n the occasion of the EU summit, Thessaloniki the movement against neoliberal globalization, will be the site of a wide range of activities which are developing and expanding in various O including panel discussions, seminars and mass European countries, movements co-ordinated demonstrations during the week starting 16 June 2003. by the European Social Forum. The above The Greek Social Forum has programmed several events parties participate in these movements and On June 18, there will be seminars and workshops on which will climax on Saturday 21 June 2003 with an work for their strengthening, as well as the "Europe of democracy and social rights", "Ecology and International Demonstration. Another demonstration strengthening of the trade union, ecological, everyday life", "Civil Society in the European against racism and in favor of the rights of the immigrants feminist and other modern movements, Constitutions", "Collectivity and Solidarity", "Political will take place on June 19. recognizing their specific and growing political parties and movements", "Youth of Greece – Cyprus – and social role. Delegations from all over Europe and other parts of the Turkey for a future of freedom, democracy and peaceful world are expected to participate in the events. co-existence", "The Crisis of the traditional trade union Finally the meeting issued a joint appeal of the movement", etc. PROGRAMME parties, urging for the immediate stop of the war against Iraq. The events will start on 17 June 2003 with the opening of On June 19, some of the above events will continue and a Welcoming and Information Center of the GSF and a some new ones will take place, but the main event will be seminar on "Neoliberalism and Education". a march against racism starting at 19:30. Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 3 PAGE ñ 2 INTERNATIONAL SYNASPISMOS ACTIVITIES Programmatic Congress ...from the front page 10 – 12.1.2003 23rd NELF meeting in Paris. Panos Trigazis and Katy Nicolatos represented Main tasks In this light, our efforts to promote the creation of a SYNASPISMOS. European party of the left and build the European Social In his opening speech SYN President N. Costantopoulos Forum must be evaluated. Only the left, the SYN 21.1.2003 Patriotic Unity of Kurdistan (PUK) said that the first key to analyze the present world President said, can decisively defend the idea of a delegation met at SYN headquarters with P. situation is the term "neoliberal capitalist globalization European constitution which will be the basis for political Trigazis and A. Papadomichelaki. under the US hegemony". He pointed out that "the integration in a federal direction. internationalization of the economic functions is 23 – 28.1.2003 SYN President N. undoubtedly an objective tendency of capitalism", which On the issue of the European integration, N. Constantopoulos participated in the 3rd World is "fascilitated by technological progress". Costantopoulos added, the European left has to counter not Social Forum in Porto Alegre, accompanied by only the policies of the Right but of Socialdemocracy too. N. Theodorakopoulou, H. Golemis, C. Issychos. This situation, he went on, is marked by certain political, economic and geostrategic options, especially by the US He also pointed out that the issues of the European 24.01.2003 SYN appeal against war on Iraq with their aim to dominate the world by promoting their integration must be linked with the struggles against handed to Spanish Ambassador by A. imperial model as well as their economic model. But neoliberal globalization and for world peace. Papadomichelaki. there is growing opposition to this situation, N. Speaking about the domestic situation, N. 24.01.2003 SYN President N. Costantopoulos Costantopoulos said, and stressed the great significance Costantopoulos criticized sharply the economic and of the new social movements and the World Social meets with Worker’s Party of Brazil delegation social policies followed by the PASOK government which Forum as well as the unprecedented world movement did not bring about a progressive modernization of headed by Aloizio Mercadante, Secretary of against the war on Iraq. International Relations Greece, as were left out of its agenda issues such as the Great emphasis was laid in N. Costantopoulos’ speech to change of the political system, the democratization and 25 – 26.1.2003 Congress of the Freedom and the European integration process, as "a possibility to decentralization of the state, the separation of the church Solidarity Party of Turkey (ODP). PS member, change the balance of forces and question the presently from the state, the creation of structures for a welfare Yannis Tolios represented SYNASPISMOS. dominant political, social and economic options". A state similar to European ones, etc. European integration which "will supersede the logic of 27.01.2003 An appeal against war on Iraq was the single market and assume more and more essential Therefore, N. Costantopoulos concluded, our will is "to handed to the German Ambassador in Athens A. political characteristics, which will lead to Europe’s fight with all the forces of the radical left and the Speegel by N. Houndis and P. Trigazis. autonomy from the USA". A United Europe based on movements, to change the present relation of forces and 28.01.2003 Appeal against war on Iraq handed social cohesion and solidarity represents a true promote a strong anti-neoliberal pole which will work possibility to oppose the neoliberal globalization and towards a social and political majority in Greek society". to representatives of the Russian Embassy by P. contribute to a different world. Trigazis and A. Papadomichelaki. 3.2.2003 SYN President N. Costantopoulos and P. Trigazis met with Mr. Colin Archer, General Secretary of International Peace Bureau. 3.2.2003 P. Trigazis and A. Courtis visited the Appeal of Left leaders to ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Javet Hafiz to hand an appeal against war on Iraq. 10.2.2003 SYN President N. Costantopoulos, the EU Summit on Iraq T. Trikkas and P. Trigazis, met with Alan Simpson, MP, British Labor Party. wide range of initiatives were taken by A war on Iraq by the United States of America will also be 10.02.2003 Invited by SYN, British Labour SYNASPISMOS against war on Iraq, on a effectively a war on Europe, the U.N. and the very MP Alan Simpson, spokesman of the Socialist A national and European level. One of the most premises of the International Law. It will be against the Campaign Group of Labour Party MPs, spoke significant was an initiative by SYN President whole of Humanity, as it will set an extremely dangerous at a press conference and a public meeting in the N.Constantopoulos to propose to other European Left precedent for "preventive wars".