Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Beirut explosion: Solidarity messages by the Communist Parties of Greece, Cyprus, Turkey

At least 100 people were killed and 4,000 were wounded after the massive blast that rocked Beirut on Tuesday. The whole city was shaken by the explosion and a mushroom cloud could be seen spreading over the port area. 

The Lebanese Communist Party (LCP) declared the 5th of August as a day of humanitarian solidarity and requested a prompt investigation for the incident

Statements of condolences and solidarity towards the people of Lebanon were issued by the Communist Parties of Greece (KKE), Cyprus (AKEL) and Turkey (TKP):

Statement by the KKE

ATHENS — In a statement for the deadly explosion in Beirut, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out the following. 

“The KKE expresses its deep sorrow and solidarity to the people of Lebanon for the victims of the Beirut explosions. 

This shocking incident comes in a period when the developments in the region of East Mediterranean and the Middle East have the “smell of gunpowder” due to the fierce competitions and, therefore, serious questions arise about the actual causes. 

For this reason, it is urgently necessary to have concrete answers for the actual causes and the responsibilities for this tragic incident which costed dozens of deaths and thousands injured to the tormented people of Lebanon.”

Additionally, the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE sent a solidarity message to the Lebanese Communist Party. 



Statement by the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou

NICOSIA — In a message sent to the Ambassador of Lebanon in Nicosia Claude El Hajal, the General Secretary of the CC of AKEL Andros Kyprianou writes:

“It is with great sorrow that we received the overwhelming news for the huge explosion in Beirut, causing immense human pain and casualties, as well as incalculable material destructions. 

Accept our sincere condolences. Please convey the sincere condolences of AKEL, as well as my personal ones, to the neighboring friendly people of Lebanon. 

AKEL stands in solidarity by the side of the Lebanese people and express its readiness to help, in any way, towards their relief”.

AKEL also sent a message of solidarity to the Lebanese Communist Party.


Statement by the Communist Party of Turkey 

ISTANBUL — The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) issued a message of condolence expressing its full solidarity with Lebanese people both in coping with the consequences of the tragedy and in struggling for a system that precludes such intolerable disasters. 

The full statement is as follows:

“Dear comrades,

The Communist Party of Turkey offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Lebanese people regarding the injuries and casualties caused by the explosion in Beirut.

Regardless of the specific reason of the tragic event, we regret the slightest possibility of sabotage that is brought to mind from the recent provocations of the Israeli state.

We sincerely share the feelings of the Lebanese people suffering the pain of the incident just at a time when they have been raising the struggle against the devastation caused by imperialism-capitalism.   

It is of no doubt that such catastrophic "accidents" become more probable in a system that trivializes human life and renders the city to the chaos of market forces, besides the "ordinary" social consequences of the system such as unemployment, poverty and the threat of war.

We firmly believe that the Lebanese communists will call on those who are directly or indirectly responsible to account for the tragedy.

As the communists of Turkey, we express our full solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Lebanon both in coping with the consequences of the tragedy and in struggling for a system that precludes such intolerable disasters.”