Partial transcript of the speech by Greek PM, Alexis Tsipras, during Supreme Council of Greek-Turkish Cooperation, Smyrna

19:21 approx.:

I would like, in my turn, to warmly thank the Turkish PM, my friend Ahmed. As he himself said earlier, we have been meeting very frequently lately. [...] We have highlighted the significant prospects presented by energy cooperation and the great importance of paths for natural gas, of the TAP and TANAP pipelines, the great importance of our cooperation in Tourism [...] Of course, no one can ignore the fact that the future of Greek-Turkish relation goes through major challenges, such as coping with the great crises we are facing, and specifically the refugee crisis. [...] 

In order to obtain a better life, [refugees] become victims of traffickers and many of them lose their lives in the Aegean. So we, the two governments, me and Ahmed, are here today, so we can commonly declare that what is going on in our sea is a shame to our values and our civilization.

AKEL, "Marxism-Leninism", and the "solution of the Cyprus problem"...

From the "unofficial" visit of the GS of AKEL to Mehmet Davutoglu, 23 January 2016, Turkey

Interview with Toumazos Tsielepis, Head of AKEL Committee on the Cyprus Problem, 16 January 2016:

On imperialist war in the Middle East as an auspicious conjuncture for the solution of the Cyprus Problem:

- "It is true that at this moment, there is a conjuncture that is advantageous to the efforts for a solution. All the international players have an interest in a comprehensive solution of the Cyrus issue, like never before. The same goes for the rational interests of Turkey, though its current leadership is unpredictable."

On the need for cash liquidity the solution will imply:

- "Our job is to find the solution. When we find it, we need to come up with a final cost and then address that to the international community, asking for its aid so this solution can be implemented. The international community must procur us with the money, either as a gift, or as low-interest, long-term loans.  It goes without question that in that case there cannot be a Memorandum logic at work, because then the Federal state would be mathematically led to collapse!"

Entry to British Sovereign Base in Dekeleia, Cyprus. Written into the Cyprus Republic's Constitution of 1960

- On why the "International Community" [sic] should support the cost of the solution given its own financial problems: 

"The Cyprus problem is a political problem giving the international community a headache for the last 50 years. It should be dealt with as such: with political, not with economic and Memorandum-like terms. The solution to the Cyprus problem is linked to major political, but also economic interests. Doesn't the EU have an interest in the solution to the Cyprus problem? Doesn't it, for instance, desire the natural gas of the Eastern Mediterranean in a manner that puts an end to its dependence on Russia? Doesn't the solution to the Cyprus problem work in the interests of the Southeast wing of NATO? The 10 or 20 billion that may be necessary for funding the solution is small change for the international community. On the contrary, the benefits it will reap are infinitely larger."

From statements of Mevlut Çavosuglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affrairs, after his meeting with AKEL GS Andros Kyprianou, 23 January 2016:

"Asked how he views AKEL's positive views on a solution to the Cyprus Problem given that in 2004 it had voted against the Annan Plan, the Turkish minister stated that back in 2004, the leadership of AKEL was Mr. Christofias, who had different views, and added that today's AKEL leadership has a different position."

P.S.: AKEL describes itself as a "Marxist-Leninist" party...

Def Min P. Kamenos suggested creating a NATO base in the Aegean-Response of the KKE

Minister of Defense P. Kammenos announced that the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition government will propose the creation of a NATO base in the Aegean, a fact that involves the country even further in the dangerous imperialist plans of the wolf pack.

Speaking at an "Economist" conference, P. Kammenos noted that he will submit this proposal during his upcoming visit to the U.S.

Confirming that the elaboration of this proposal is at an advanced stage, he mentioned that there is a Ministry study that takes into account the Suda, Crete base and NATO needs. However, he did not reveal the island on which the proposed base will operate.

The excuse he gave for the creation of this new attack base in the NATO war machine was that with this base the "Alliance" will have direct knowledge of Turkey's behavior. Of course, through the previous years, the elevation of NATO to the status of an arbiter of Greek-Turkish differences not only did not prevent Turkish provocations, but legitimated Ankarra demands, as NATO does not recognize borders in the Aegean.

PAME: Greek Worker Solidarity for Turkish Workers

PAME supports the struggle of the Turkish Metal Workers 

PAME, which represents the class-oriented trade union movement of Greece, condemns the Turkish Government, which satisfies the demands of the industrialists by prohibiting the strike of the metalworkers who fight for the signing of a Collective Contract with better wages. 

On Wednesday, February 4 the trade union of the Metal Workers Birlesik Metal-Is is organizing a big protest demonstration defending the right of the workers to go on strike. Based on the principles of Internationalist Solidarity, PAME will join the demonstration with a delegation that will travel to Turkey. At the same time PAME will organise protests outside the Turkish Consulates in Greece 

We demand: 

Revoking of the Turkish government's decision to ban the strike 

Satisfaction of the demands of the metalworkers for signing collective agreements with better wages.

PAME Hellas, translation emended by Lenin Reloaded.