7-27-06, 9:24 am

Press Conference of the European Left Party Subject: EL delegation to Lebanon



Representatives of the parties of the European Left which belong to the Secretariat of the Executive Committee of the party announced at a Press Conference in Athens today the visit of a delegation of the European Left party to Lebanon.

Alecos Alavanos, SYNASPISMOS President, made the following opening statement:

'We are all living dramatic moments. After Baghdad, after Gaza, another Middle East region is turned into a slaughterhouse, into a mass of ruins. This must end. This war must end.

Fifteen days ago in Paris we had a meeting of the European Left parties leaders and a visit to the region was decided. After the latest developments Lebanon and Beirut became a first priority. That’s why a delegation of the European Left party is leaving for Beirut tonight

Here, in brief, are the ten basic points of the European Left party’s position on the issue: Immediate termination of the war, according to international law and the UN principles Release of the prisoners on all sides Withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and Gaza Deployment of a peace keeping UN force for the security and stability in the region, in order to promote a comprehensive solution An international Conference for the Middle East that will focus on the Palestinian issue Immediate termination of arms exports to the region An urgent and generous humanitarian aid programme under the UN aegis Development of the broadest possible anti-war movement A demand to the European Union and to the governments of the member countries to go forward, at last, to a policy free of US hegemony, that will promote a peaceful solution to the Middle East problem based on diplomatic means, on the basis of the UN resolutions.



The delegation will be made up of the following comrades:

Jean Claude Lefort, Member of Parliament for the French Communist Party –PCF, Wolfgang Gerhke, Member of Parliament for Die Linke PDS,Germany Miguel Portas, Member of European Parliament – Left Block -Portugal Alfio Nicotra, National Representative for Peace issues for the Communist Refoundation – Italy, Dino Hadzinicola, Member of Parliament, AKEL, Cyprus Athanassios Leventis, Member of Parliament, SYNASPISMOS, Greece, Panos Trigazis, SYNASPISMOS Political Secretariat member. Aris Moussionis, member of Greek Parliament for the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) has asked to be part of this group and he will be joining them.

Athens, 24 July 2006