“The refugee crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus”

Speech by Neoklis Sylikiotis, AKEL Political Bureau member and AKEL MEP, to the discussion organized by the Cyprus Peace Council

12 October 2018, Local Club of the Left, Acropolis neighborhood, Nicosia

We have often taken to the streets side by side with the Cyprus Peace Council, together with the international movement of the Left, but also with the peace-loving forces in our region, to demonstrate against the ongoing wars and interventionist policies, warning about the devastating consequences they will have on our peoples. One characteristic example are the demonstrations we organized on the war in Syria. Nothing, of course, has stopped imperialism’s forces from intervening. A few months later, the EU – with the agreement of the Anastasiades government as well – decided to end it’s the arms embargo to the Syrian opposition. They decided to fund and arm the so-called “Syrian Free Army,” which was the breeding ground from which the jihadists and the murderous army of ISIS sprang from. With the tolerance shown by the EU, both France, as well as Germany, armed the jihadists; while together with the US, but also with other EU countries, they contributed towards the destabilization of the Middle East and North Africa by promoting wars and funding the so-called “Arab Spring”.

Since then, we have been warning of the consequences their interference in the internal affairs would have in a sovereign country, but our views were ignored.

I recall these events because what is happening today in the Eastern Mediterranean is the result of the US, NATO and EU plans which for decades have been flagrantly violating international law and promoting the re-arrangement of borders so as to secure their geopolitical interests and control over resources and energy pipelines.

These very same forces – namely NATO, US and the EU – invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, bombed Libya and destroyed Syria, resulting in the creation of waves of refugees and deepening of the current refugee crisis that is troubling the EU and its member states, particularly those in the South.

They are the very same forces that are continuing – even today – to support authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and enhance their relations with Israel which is illegally occupying the territories of Palestine, while they are indifferent to the fate of Palestinians who are forced to become refugees for a second time.

Cyprus, due to its strategic geographical position, is playing a special role in their imperialist plans. The British bases have frequently been used as an aggressive launching pad to wage raids and interventions against our neighboring countries. Just a few months ago, we once again protested, together with the Cyprus Peace Council, outside the US Embassy against the use of British bases in the raids against Syria. Indeed it has now been revealed that there was a secret American helicopter base operating from 2013 until 2018 in Cyprus. Furthermore, the Government instead of giving an answer as to the substance of the questions raised, refers the issue to the US authorities.

The situation in the EU is becoming even more dangerous with the European Union’s new turn towards militarization, investment in the defence industry with the new European Defence Fud and the strengthening of the arms industry. The new defence policy serves only to enhance NATO’s operational capability to participate in new interventions and war conflicts. The example of the Turkish invasion of Afrin in Syria against the Kurds, where the Turkey attacked using German tanks, while the Kurds defended Afrin with German anti-tank weapons, is characteristic. That’s precisely where the further militarization and support of arms exports is leading to – the waging of new wars and new conflicts.

The ongoing tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea do not leave any person indifferent. Everyday new numbers are added to the long list of the dead. Refugees, including children, are losing their lives in their effort to escape the deadlocks which the imperialist and neo-liberal policies of the new order have led them.

The continuing tragedy is increasingly making the need for the EU to make a radical revision of its refugee policy all the more imperative.

Permit me to outline the position of AKEL and of the Confederal Group of GUE/NGL in the European Parliament.

The proposals of the European United Left are quite clear. In order to address effectively the refugee crisis, we must address the root causes of migration, namely the ongoing wars, mass poverty and neo-liberal economic policies, both in the countries of origin, as well as in the host countries.

As long as the EU continues to be an obedient servant in imperialist wars and of the US too, peace and social development cannot prevail. We therefore reject the notion of any military solutions and the strengthening of repressive border guard mechanisms, particularly against the sovereignty of member states. We are exerting pressure on the EU to stop enforcing its repressive forces and building up the wall on its borders.

A different approach is necessary in order to stop refugees being treated as criminals and for the adoption of measures based on international law, solidarity and humanism immediately.

The EU has a duty to strengthen the provision of humanitarian assistance and human rescue forces, but at the same time to also contribute towards promoting policies for growth in migrant countries and to provide support to states bordering the countries in crisis. We are struggling as the Left in the European Parliament, but also in every arena of struggle, towards this end.

More specifically, we are asserting:

1. Dublin 2 must be abolished immediately as it is now recognized by all that it has dramatically aggravated the humanitarian crisis, given that the countries of the South have taken on almost all the refugees without having the infrastructures and capabilities to cope.
2. We are exerting pressure for the fair distribution of burdens according to each state’s GDP and for a common asylum system that will safeguard the free movement of refugees throughout European territory.
3. We are calling for the creation of dignified provisional accommodation conditions for asylum seekers according to UN standards, with the financial assistance of the European Union, as well as the improvement in the way asylum applications are examined.
4. We call for a permanent and fair system of refugee relocation so that the Mediterranean countries, especially those receiving the biggest waves of refugees, are given support.

For example, in Cyprus, ships with poverty-stricken refugees, including children and pregnant women, are constantly arriving in Cyprus. The number of refugees may be small in number, but in proportion to the population of Cyprus, there are huge needs and the country cannot respond adequately without the provision of EU support.

Unfortunately, the Anastasiades-DISY government still doesn’t have any strategy to address the refugee crisis. Its policy with regards the hosting of refugees is non-existent, and it has failed even to make use of the European funds that the Republic of Cyprus is entitled to. So they engage in issuing racist statements like the one we recently heard from the President of governing DISY party that Cyprus cannot withstand any more migrants.

What is the situation today in the EU?

Unfortunately, the leaders of the EU are satisfied because of the false reduced number of arrivals we have in the EU. But the tragic reality and the drownings in the Mediterranean Sea do not reflect these numbers. Worst of all however is that the EU leaders are insisting on pursuing the same destructive policies and continuing to support the ongoing imperialist interventions that are fueling the terrorist forces, the bloody massacre of the peoples and creating more and more waves of refugees turning the Mediterranean into an enormous cemetery.

The leaders of the EU are only focused on strengthening the guarding of its external borders, the establishment of concentration camps and the acceleration of mass expulsions. Indeed, in order for the EU to keep the refugees outside its borders, it hasn’t hesitated to give the title of “country of safe destination” even to Turkey, which is daily violating human rights and democratic principles.

The decisions taken to relocate refugees to member states haven’t been implemented, while at the same time European governments are reintroducing increasingly stricter border controls to exclude refugees, imposing brutal repressive measures and building electronic fences and walls.

Thus, the EU now has double responsibilities for the refugee crisis, given that it first participated in imperialist interventions that uprooted millions of people from their homelands, while it is now firmly shutting its gates so that the refugees can’t find shelter in Europe.

The recent decision approved by the leaders of the EU in Salzburg regrettably proves that they will continue to implement the same repressive measures, increasing controls at internal and external borders and strengthening the logic of a fortress Europe.

At the same time, the acute exploitation of Africa’s natural resources continues and in fact is intensifying. Even the EU’s development aid is being used by multinational companies to deepen this exploitation. European Commission President Juncker announced the increase in funding towards Africa. However – yet again – the money will be given as a loan, not as a grant. In addition, instead of being used to serve local needs, this money will end up going to the multinational companies.

At the same time it is important to stress that these neo-liberal policies being promoted are preparing the ground both for the rise of the ultra-right, as well as for the adoption of racist and xenophobic rhetoric and policies by various governments. If the EU continues promoting the same policies, the ultra-right forces will grow even stronger and pose very great dangers for the peoples of Europe. The rise of the ultra-right is attempting to drive Europe backwards to obscurantism and backwardness and threatening the fundamental freedoms, rights and gains of the peoples.

The violent attacks in Greece, the city of Bari in Italy, Chemnitz in Germany, but also in other states, by fascist forces have demonstrated that the extreme-Right is becoming increasingly bolder in its attacks. The immediate cooperation and forging of an alliance between progressive forces is an imperative need so that we can combat the ultra-right. It is also imperative that the broader democratic and progressive forces rally their forces, and together, fight against the rise of the ultra-right, fascism, racism and xenophobia.

Faced with the dramatic moments humanity is going through, new and relentless struggles are demanded for peace, freedom, democracy and social justice, both inside and outside Europe. We all have a duty to fight fascism, neo-Nazism, and racism. We should struggle so that the EU rejects xenophobic and racist policies.

Migration is a complex and timeless issue that will not stop until its root causes are tackled and overcome in a radical way. As long as the rich countries of the Western World exploit the wealth and resources of poor countries, thereby widening social and regional inequalities, and continuing their imperialist, expansionist policies by waging wars, the refugee crisis is going to deepen even more.

AKEL, both on a national and European level, together with the Confederal Group of the European United Left, will continue the struggle against the policies that are forcing people to leave their homelands to survive.

We shall continue the struggle until the EU stops spilling hypocritical tears about the drama suffered by refugees; until it admits that the refugee crisis is the result of the barbaric wars and that it develops, in a spirit of solidarity, respect for human rights and dignity, an immigration policy within the framework of a more general social and growth policy.

Together with the Cyprus Peace Council, we will continue the struggle for a Europe of solidarity, humanism, social justice and of peace.