JOINT STATEMENT
BY SYNASPISMOS AND ODP PRESIDENTS
ALECOS ALAVANOS AND HAYRI KOZANOGLOU
On the occasion of the 4th ESF the leaders of SYNASPISMOS, Alecos Alavanos, and ODP –Freedom and Solidarity Party (Turkey) -Hayri Kozanoglou, met and issued the following joint statement:

“At a time when a new war of the Bush Administration threatens our neighborhood, this time against Iran, where the use of nuclear weapons is not excluded, we consider as our first priority to fight for peace and commit ourselves to spare no effort to promote it every possible level – regional, European and international.

We say categorically «NO» to an « Iraq II ». No more blood for oil. No more ecological catastrophes. 

The soils of our countries should not be used to facilitate the war.
We call upon the UN Security Council to reject the US pressures and exclude any option of the use of force in dealing with the crisis related to Iran΄s nuclear programme. The EU and all the European countries should contribute actively in the same direction.

This is the time for the broadest development of the anti-war movement globally.

Our position against nuclear weapons and their proliferation is non negotiable. But nuclear non-proliferation should not be an excuse of the U.S government’s imperialist intervention plans. Nuclear non-proliferation can and must be guaranteed by political means, international agreements and IAEA controls which must apply also to Iran.

The Middle East must be transformed into a nuclear-weapons-free zone and embark on a course of comprehensive peace through the end of occupations and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, alongside the State of Israel.
The possible deterioration of the situation in the Middle East requires even stronger efforts on the part of the peace forces of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. For the solution of the Cyprus problem, without delay, within the UN framework and on the basis of its resolutions and this requires new efforts from “below” to bring the two communities closer and promote a culture of co-existence. As for the problems in Greek-Turkish relations they must and can be dealt with peacefully through dialogue on the basis of international law.

In this direction, we will increase our efforts for cooperation and solidarity among the left and progressive forces of these three countries.

In particular, we support the proposal for the mutual reduction of arms and military budgets of Greece and Turkey and we will jointly campaign for it, so that the broadest possible movement can develop in our societies. The adoption of this proposal will not only be a great step towards peace, but will also free huge resources for the solution of the acute social problems of our two countries.

As we met in Athens, on the occasion of the 4th European Social Forum we express our unreserved support to this great « movement of movements » and its further development.”
Athens, 6 May 2006