7 & 8 July,,  2007

On 7 and 8 July 2007 SYNASPISMOS and ODP organized a common event in continuation of their on-going campaign for a mutual reduction of arms and military budgets of Greece and Turkey.

A SYNASPISMOS delegation headed by Alecos Alavanos visited Ayvali on the 7th of July while an ODP delegation visited Mytilene the next day.

The following Appeal was issued as a culmination of the meetings.

Joint appeal by ODP and SYNASPISMOS

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 that of the European and NATO averages. The continuation of the arms race between them is catastrophic for both countries and peoples. It benefits only the military industries and those who want to apply the “divide and rule” doctrine in Greek - Turkish relations. It serves the war plans of the USA and NATO.

We cannot reconcile ourselves with the stark reality that Greece and Turkey are among the first countries in the world in arms imports and military spending, wasting huge resources while both countries are facing acute social and economic problems.

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

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 appeal for broad support to our joint proposal for the mutual 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. The adoption of this 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 instead of the “no-war” situation we are in today.

We declare that contemporary security is multi-dimensional. More arms does not mean more security, it means less.

We state once again: neighbourhood needs peace and cooperation!

Let us make “people’s diplomacy” and action from “below” a decisive factor in Greek-Turkish relations.

Let us build peace bridges across the Aegean, as many as possible.

Ayvalik - Mytilini , 7-8 July 2007

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