A delegation of the Party of Democratic Socialism of Germany, consisting of Party President Gabi Zimmer, and Member of the PDS National Executive Board M.P. of Lower Saxony Christian Schwarzenholz, visited Athens on 27-30 of April 2001, on the invitation of SYNASPISMOS. The PDS delegation met with a delegation of SYNASPISMOS headed by the President N.Constantopoulos and took part in a meeting organised by the Women’s section of the party. In addition, they were received by Greek foreign Minister G.Papandreou, and met with the Secretary of PASOK Costas Skandalidis, KKE Political Bureau member Orestis Kolozof and a delegation from the Greek Alternative Ecologists. Finally, the PDS delegation met with the Greek Council for the German war reparations and the Mayor of Egaleo Y.Mystakopoulos.
At the end of the visit the Presidents of the two parties made the following joint press statement:
We express our satisfaction for the close relations of solidarity and co-operation which have been developed between our two parties, PDS and SYNASPISMOS, on a bilateral level as well as within the framework of the New European Left Forum and the Group of the GUE /NGL in the European Parliament. It is our decision to further develop these relations in all fields.
The discussions that took place during the visit between the delegations of the two parties were thorough and fruiful. It was ascertained that the two parties share common views on the important issues currently occupying European people and the Left of our continent and the world in general.
Discussion focused on the following subjects:
A. It is our estimation that developments in the EU, especially after the Nice IGC, increase the need and the importance of co-operation and common action on a European level of the forces of the Left, which wish to promote their own alternative proposal for the construction of Europe far from neoliberalism and Euroatlanticism.
1.SYNASPISMOS and the PDS ascertain that the neoliberal economic unitary thought, as this is expressed in the texts of the OECD and the World Bank, governs the efforts of most EU governments to “adapt” their countries social security systems. These efforts, which dismantle the European social model, present as a necessity the reduction of pensions, the increase of the age limits, and mass redundancies, while the first priority should be the fight against unemployment and the redistributary policy, which will provide the necessary resources for the social security system.
However, neoliberal views are opposed by ever-increasing sectors of the European peoples. In Germany, in Greece and in many other European countries the resistance of the trade unions, the new social movements and the parties of the alternative Left develops constantly. SYNASPISMOS and the PDS believe that this resistance would be much more effective if it was co-ordinated on an all-European level. Both our parties consider the contribution to the creation of international networks of resistance and promotion of alternative proposals to be a priority. A contribution which could have as a starting point the co-operation of left wing trade unionists of the European countries, in the framework of their unions and of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
2. Synaspismos and the PDS agree to work jointly aiming at the formation of common proposals of the European Left for the revision of the Nice Treaty, which is scheduled for 2004. The various problems of the institutional structure of the EU, currently in a process of enlargement require a thorough and in-depth discussion on a long-term basis and systematic preparation (work groups, etc) in order to achieve the necessary common approaches and proposals of the European Left.
3.European political parties, as have been established by other political forces, constitute an EU institution, provided by the Treaty of Nice. It is high time to include in the political agenda the creation of a political subject of the European Left, open to the new social and ecological movements, safeguarding the autonomy of the forces from each country that will comprise it. Our two parties agree to co-operate for the promotion of this idea.
B. Recent international developments generate new risks for peace and stability in the world. In particular, we express our deep concern and total opposition to the decision by the new American administration to reject the Kyoto Agreements for the environment as well as its decision to go ahead with the implementation of its NMD project, canceling the ABM Treaty and creating dangers of a new nuclear arms race and a return to Cold War. We declare our common will to strengthen movements and initiatives, which are gaining force in Europe on these issues.
C. The situation in the Balkans continues to be critical and the persisting instability constitutes a more general danger for Europe itself. SYN and the PDS declare once more their opposition to solving problems by force and military interventions. We believe that peace and stability in the region require the inviolability of frontiers and the full respect of human rights in all countries. It is on this basis that the two parties will jointly promote the proposal for a “Balkan Helsinki” - to be guaranteed by the EU and OSCE.
D. SYN and the PDS reconfirm their position for the solution of the Cyprus issue on the basis of UN resolutions and their support for the process of Cyprus accession into the EU. They demand of the German government to play a more active role to support the integration of Cyprus in the EU independent of the Cyprus question. They confirm the right of existence of the State of Israel and express their solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinians for the creation of an independent Palestinian State. They also demand Europe to play a more active role for peace in the Middle East. They explicitly condemn the attitude of the Turkish authorities towards the political prisoners who are on hunger strike and the policy of the “white cells”.
E. The two parties express their deep concern for the rise of racism and xenophobia in Europe. That is why they attribute special importance to the European Conference on these issues organised by the New European Left Forum and the PDS from 12 to 14 May 2001 in Berlin Finally, SYNASPISMOS and the PDS decided to co-operate on new activities for the payment of German war reparations owed to Greece.
