Yechury and Koutsoumbas in 2016 in Athens |
More specifically, Koutsoumbas' letter which was published on "Rizospastis", stresses out:
"It is with great sadness that we were informed about the early death of comrade Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). On behalf of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) I express our sincere condolences to the CC of the CPI-M, to its members and cadres, as well as to his family and relatives.
Cde Sitaram had a significant contribution to the International Communist Movement and the International Meetings of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP), being faithful to the principles of proletarian internationalism. He was particularly known in Greece, among Greek communists and contributed to the strengthening of our parties' close relations.
As the General Secretary of the CC of CPI-M, following an invitation of our Party, he officially visited Greece in September 2016 and spoke at the central events of the KNE-Odigitis Festival in Athens. In his 50-year presence in the people's and communist movement in India, Comrade Sitaram served the interests of the working class and the Indian people and fought through the ranks of the CPI-M".