International Meeting of AKEL and GUE/NGL “The Mediterranean a nuclear free zone”

 

 

Communist Party of Greece, Communist Party of Israel, Communist Party of Spain,
Communist Party of Japan and Palestinian National Authority

 

On 3rd March 2012 the AKEL Delegation in GUE-NGL
and GUE-NGL in the European Parliament co-organised
an International Meeting “The Mediterranean – a
nuclear free zone” in Nicosia.

Important speeches from foreign guests included Mr. Abdullah
Abu Shawish, Deputy Head of the Multilateral Relations Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National
Authority, Junichi Kodama of the Japanese Communist Party, Aida
Touma – Sliman, Head of International Relations Committee of the
Communist Party of Israel and Chief Editor of “Al-Ittihad”, Nikos
Karathanasopoulos Member of Parliament and of the Economic
Bureau of the C.C. of KKE Greece, Pedro Marset, member of the
C.C. and the International Relations Department of the Communist
Party of Spain. Erato Kozakou Marcoulli, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus also addressed the meeting.

The GS of the C.C. of AKEL Andros Kyprianou made the opening
speech, stressing that, “AKEL believes that the Communist Parties,
the Left and progressive forces, the peace-loving forces in general
must coordinate their actions and organise a big campaign against
nuclear weapons, fight for a nuclear free Mediterranean zone, insist
on dialogue and cooperation as the means of solving problems. The
Mediterranean waters connect three continents that can and should
live in peace and security without the danger and threat of war and
nuclear weapons. AKEL is ready to take an active role in such a
campaign.”
A discussion took place, followed by questions. Yiannakis Colocasides,
Member of the Political Bureau of AKEL, noted three main
points arising out of the discussion. Firstly, the danger of a nuclear
disaster is still real, stemming exclusively from imperialism’s aggressive
nature. The struggle in reality is a struggle against imperialism.
Secondly, we struggle for a world and a Mediterranean free from
nuclear weapons. There are no bad or good nuclear forces.
Thirdly, the so-called peaceful use of nuclear energy provokes big
debates, whilst for sure its so-called peaceful use is submitted to the
terms of the capitalist market, and is equally dangerous as nuclear
weapons.