March 28,  2010

ODP and SYNASPISMOS declare that peace is the only choice for the peoples of Turkey and Greece. The problems in Greek - Turkish relations must and can be solved peacefully, through dialogue, on the basis of international law.

We strongly oppose militarism and chauvinism and the cultivation of nationalist hatred between our two peoples.

In this direction, we renew our commitment to campaign for the mutual and balanced reduction of arms and military budgets of Greece and Turkey as a substantial step towards real peace, mutual confidence and good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

Greece and Turkey devote huge resources for military purposes. The military budgets of both countries as a percentage of the GDP are more than double of the European and NATO averages. The continuation of the arms race between them is catastrophic for both countries and peoples. It harms both societies and benefits only the military industries and those who want to apply the imperialist “divide and rule” doctrine in Greek - Turkish relations. It serves the war plans of the USA and NATO.

We cannot reconcile ourselves with this reality, especially in this crucial period of deep capitalist economic crisis that deteriorates the social and development problems in both countries. The adoption of our proposal will free huge resources for the economic, social and ecological development of both countries. It will also be a heavy blow against the forces of militarism, a gain for democracy and for a culture of peace.

The SYNASPISMOS and ODP delegations also discussed recent developments on the Cyprus problem and expressed their full support for the efforts to find a just and viable solution through the inter-communal dialogue in the framework of the UN and on the basis of its resolutions. The people of the island - Greekcypriots and Turkishcypriots - can build a bi-communal - bizonal federation for an independent and demilitarized Cyprus, free of foreign bases.

Athens, 28 March 2010