Showing posts with label Nationalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nationalism. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2018

KKE: Comment regarding the nationalist rally over "Macedonia" name in Athens

Commenting on the "Macedonia" rally* that was held in central Athens on Sunday 4th February, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece pointed out the following:

"Both the speeches and the slogans that dominated in the rally, do not challenge the dangerous NATO plans which the SYRIZA-ANEL government promotes by designating the arsonists of the Balkans as supposed guarantors of peace and cooperation.

They conceal the actual problems, throwing water in the mill of nationalism and irredentism, while at the same time they are fostering the government to present its policy with the mandle of a supposed progressivity.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Declaration of the KKE about the Macedonia naming dispute between Greece and FYROM

Regarding the ongoing developments on the Macedonia name dispute and the negotiations between Greece and FYROM, the Communist Party of Greece issued the following pamphlet-statement.

The arsonists of the Balkans- NATO, USA, EU- do not want to give a solution for the people's benefit!

The KKE calls the Greek people, who are genuinely concerned about the developments on the FYROM issue, must see the essence of the problem, the “forest” and not the “tree”. They must overcome the disorientation and the false dividing lines that both the government as well those powers who invest on nationalism and irredentism are cultivating.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Macedonia name dispute: KKE is opposed to FYROM's accession to NATO

The firm opposition of the Communist Party of Greece to NATO's plans in the Balkan region and the role of the imprialist alliance in the Macedonia name dispute, was stated by Nikos Sofianos, member of the Political Bureau of the Party's Central Committee, during an interview on ERT1.

The negotiations that are currently taking place between Greece and the neighboring country [FYROM] are taking place under the umbrella of NATO and the Americans. These are the ones who accelerate the talks, aiming at the accession of FYROM in NATO” said Sofianos. 

He also added that both the government and other cosmopolitans as well as the organizers of the upcoming nationalist rally (which will take place on Sunday in Athens) “do not disagree with FYROM's accession to NATO, the alliance which is responsible for slaughtering the Balkans, dissolving Yugoslavia, bombing Serbia, creating minorities and utilizing irredentisms”.

Kemal Okuyan- Don’t you understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism?

Kemal Okuyan, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) and soL columnist, wrote an article on January 30 regarding the differences between patriotism and nationalism with reference to a famous patriotic Soviet song, 'Song of the Motherland', some lyrics of which were removed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in order to ignore the song's references to the equality of all people under socialism.

Don’t you understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism?

It was 1936. Racism and fascism were rising in Europe. Italy, Germany and Austria surrendered. The fascists declared a "holy war" against the republicans in Spain. Nationalism was polluting everywhere. Discrimination against the black people reached the highest level.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

KKE statement on Tsipras-Zaev meeting: "The combat against irredentism requires FYROM's constitution to be amended"

The meeting between Tsipras- Zaev and the statements that followed confirm that the general established set, focusing on the accession of the neighboring country in NATO and the EU, the so-called Euroatlantic integration in western Balkans and the bankrupted practice of nomenclature, cannot guarantee a solution for the benefit of our people, for the people of the neighboring country (FYROM) and the people of the region” writes a statement of the Communist Party of Greece regarding yesterday's meeting between the Prime Ministers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in Davos.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Thanasis Pafilis on Macedonia Issue: "NATO and EU are the people's murderers, not guarantors of borders"

Speaking earlier today (Wednesday) at the Greek Parliament, the parliamentary spokesman of the Communist Party of Greece Thanasis Pafilis, mentioned that nobody must see the Macedonia name issue (between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) "detached from all the developments in the wider region and especially in the Balkans". 

Thanasis Pafilis attacked both those who organize nationalist rallies - such as the one that took place three days ago in Thessaloniki- as well as those who express cosmopolitan views, underlining that both "do not challenge the accession of this country in NATO and the EU". More specifically, the KKE MP said: "The government's urgency [to solve the problem] - we don't know what agreements made in the USA- is exactly related with that. Because the USA and NATO in general are interested to incorporate FYROM in NATO and the EU, in order to finish the encirclement of Russia". 

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Macedonia naming dispute: Commentary by the KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas

In an interview to "Real FM" radio on Friday 19th January, the General Secretary of the CC of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas was asked about the ongoing developments in the naming dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Below you can read abstracts from D.Koutsoumbas' answers to the questions regarding this matter:

"It is clear that during this period, the Greek government and to a certain degree the government of Skopje as well, are facing powerful pressures for a solution in the naming issue, especially from the side of the USA and NATO. These powers are keen for the accession of FYROM in NATO because, as well know, the contradictions and competitions, especially in the Balkans, are very intense.

Large economic interests are clashing and Russia does not want to lose its influence that traditional has in the Balkan region and the USA are interested to abstract countries from Russia's influence and to integrate them in the so-called euroatlantic axis, NATO and the EU. […] For that reason, according to our opinion, the nomenclature is preceded disconnected from the other issues. Its not that the name issue is not an existing matter, but I think we must get out of this sterile nomenclature.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Comment by the KKE on Macedonia name dispute: "An end must be put to the irredentist propaganda"

Commenting on the recent revival of the public discussion* concerning the name dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece said the following:

"The revival of the nomenclature for the Skopje issue and the political-point aspirations developed by all sides, must not hide that a basic common pursuit, both of the SYRIZA-ANEL government and the other parties, is that the solution (whatever it is) must be linked to the accession of the neighboring country to NATO and the EU, which were and continue being the basic factors of instability, wars and border-changing in the Balkans and the broader region. 

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Catalonia independence: PCPE reflects on the intra-bourgeois struggle for dominance in Spain

In a brief video message issued on Saturday afternoon, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont vowed to continue working to build “a free country”. “We must do so resisting repression and threats, without ever abandoning, at any time, civic and peaceful conduct,” he said, adding that his government did not have or want “the argument of force”. 

Madrid reacted to the Catalan parliament’s unilateral declaration of independence on Friday by firing the regional government and dismissing the head of the local police force.

In sight of these rapid developments, we publish a recent press release (23/10/2017) issued by the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) which reflects on the ongoing intra-bourgeois struggle in Spain and calls the working class to reject the repression by the Spanish state towards Catalonian workers and intensify the struggle for a homeland of labour based on fraternity.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Catalan referendum: Statement by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

On the occasion of the referendum in Catalonia, the Press Office of the CC of the KKE issued the following statement:

"The KKE condemns the barbaric state violence and repression exercised by the spanish government during yesterday's referendum in Catalonia. This policy sharpens nationalist and divisive viewpoints from both sides, while it feeds the intra-bourgeois- strange to workers-people's rights- antagonisms within Spain.

Catalonia Referendum: Statement by the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) / Comunicado del Secretariado Político del PCPE

Statement by the Political Secretariat of the PCPE.

Following today's events, the PCPE shows its concern for the increase of the repressive escalation in the Catalan conflict. Today the dictatorial nature of the State has been re-established, an element that we Communists have always denounced and for which we have especially warned in recent weeks.

Monday, December 5, 2016

The Turkish government escalates provocative rhetoric over Aegean- Comment by the Communist Party of Greece

Rejep Tayyip Erdogan.
Last Wednesday, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu referred to the eastern Aegean Imia islets as “Turkish soil.” Cavusoglu was responding in writing to a question tabled by a Turkish MP regarding the status of islands and islets in the Aegean.

“As long as the AKP is in power there will be no change in the legal and de facto status of islands in the Aegean,” noted Cavusoglu in his statement. 

Cavusoglu’s comments followed comments made by the leader of the Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu in which he accused Greece of occupying 18 islands in the Aegean.

The Greek Foreign Ministry described the comments by Cavusoglu as “irresponsible and provocative” and a violation of international law. In response, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Huseyin Muftuoglu reaffirmed Ankara’s stance. 

“Turkey’s position on her sovereignty over Kardak Rocks [the Turkish name for the Imia islets] is well known by the international community since 1996. There is no change in our policy in this regard.” said Muftuoglu.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

KKE delegation at the European Parliament slams EU and NATO for encouraging Turkey's aggressiveness

Addressing the Plenary of the European Parliament, yesterday in Strasburg, the KKE MEP Kostas Papadakis pointed out the issue of the Turkish government's provocations which raise assertions against the sovereign rights of Greece. As MEP Papadakis mentioned, the aggressiveness of Ankara is supported by the EU and NATO. He said:

"The statements of Erdogan regarding the challenge of the Treaty of Lausanne are especially dangerous, as well as those of the Turkish Republic Party which raise non-existent sovereignty issues for 16 Greek islands. They raise questions of grey zones and borders as a continuation of a stance that nobody can underestimate: the timeless provocation, the continuous violations of the Greek sea and airspace limits, the constant challenges against Cyprus, the dispute of the Exclusive Economic Zone. 

Friday, September 30, 2016

KKE: Statement regarding Turkish President Erdogan’s remarks on the Treaty of Lausanne

The Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement regarding the remarks of the President of Turkey Tayip Erdogan on the Treaty of Lausanne:

"Erdogan’s statements are dangerous and provocative and are part of the systematic efforts of the Turkish leadership to dispute the Aegean islands and the borders and sovereign rights of Greece more generally, to raise the issue of “grey zones”.
The period when these statements were made was no accident, as the negotiations are intensifying around the “closure” of the Cyprus question, on the basis of two component states, while the bargaining over the refugee issue between Turkey and the EU is underway. With these specific statements, Turkey is objectively exerting pressure in order to settle these matters in an even more negative direction for the peoples.
Once again, the government and the other political forces have been exposed, which for many years have been reassuring the Greek people that the alliance between Greece and Turkey, in the framework of NATO, is an agent for the “peace and security in the region”, the moment when NATO not only does not subdue the aggressive designs of Turkey, but on the contrary foments and reinforces them.” 

Monday, June 20, 2016

Euro 2016: Nationalism and Fascism under the mask of Hooliganism

This year's UEFA European Championship, commonly known as Euro 2016, has been stained by the brutal violence and clashes between hooligans both inside and outside the stadiums. 

It is true that football (or 'soccer', for our american friends) has always been a privileged field for the development of hooliganism. It's mass, popular character, as well as the tension and passion that creates to fans has been the source of multiple violent outbreaks between overzealous supporters around the world.