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7-DAY DIARY |
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MEP for PASOK |
"ELEFTHEROTYPIA" 16. 08. 2003 |
MONDAY: The alarm clock went off at 6.00 am - I had to catch a 9.15 plane to Brussels. I have only slept four hours. We are flying at 33,000 feet and the weather, apart from some thankfully slight turbulence, is fine. My colleague is seated next to me, and is already asleep and snoring gently. The peaceful ambience of the plane, with no phones ringing and polite people looking after you, offers an oasis of calm. I put on my earphones and tune in to some music. For the zillionth time it is Verdi’s Aida. I know the piece by heart now; I could even conduct the orchestra. I shut my eyes and dream of a performance at the Pyramids, one of my unfulfilled dreams.
At 3.00 pm I am chairing the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee for Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities. One of the topics that stands out on the agenda is a two-hour discussion on the Middle East with the participation of women from Palestine and Israel. I always thought women had the solutions, but not the authority to impose them. Naomi Hazan, former vice-president of the Kneshet, suggests the creation of an International Women's Council, as George Papandreou arrives. I like Mr. Papandreou's modern approach to foreign policy and international relations: a policy advancing the peaceful co-existence of nations, dialogue, respect for diversity, and good relations with one's neighbouring countries; a policy which rejects war as a means of solving disputes. Those present were charmed by his intervention. He acknowledged the fact that women could play a vital part in resolving conflicts and in peace negotiations. We finished at 6.30 pm. Work continued in the office until late.
TUESDAY: It takes but ten minutes to walk from my house to the European Parliament building. It is raining, as per usual. I bid good morning to my local green-grocer, a charming man from Marocco; a fellow country-man of his, the antique dealer down the road, thinks very highly of me, since I have rid hid him of some of the junk he sells – an old trunk, a bedside table, two lamps. I enter the Parliament building, say "bon jour" to the guards, and use my security card to get through the bars that were installed after September 11. Just imagine, I think to myself, terrorists strike the Pentagon itself, and neither the CIA, nor the FBI know anything about it.
My Committee meeting begins at 9.00 with votes on various reports: the "Daphne" Programme opposing violence against women and children, "Women of the Countryside in the light of the Common Agricultural Policy" introduced by Rodi Kratsa, Gender Budgeting, e.t.c. Following the votes, Marina Blagojevic presents her study on the status of women in the Balkans. The study is excellent; not quite so the position of women in the region: definitely not a picnic.
The meeting is followed by a working lunch with 30 Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot women. We resolve the Cyprus issue, among many others. We conclude at 5.30. Next on my agenda are about ten parliamentary and non-parliamentary receptions. That evening I decide to escape from it all, escape to the "four continents" with Serafim Fyndanidis. I enjoyed my journey to Brazil, a place "where Christ feels awkward". The setting is the Hotel Rio Otto, the roof garden on the thirtieth floor. A sweet, winter evening in June. The temperature, 24 degrees...
WEDNESDAY: At 9.00 am I have a meeting in my office with two women MPs from Iran. It lasts an hour. They were escorted by about ten men from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The women wear chadors, the men wear Armani suits. The discussion focuses on the usual issues. Not a word is said about the demonstrations that are shaking the country. I did, however, tactfully raise the issue of the separation of state and religion and reminded them that in contemporary democracies it is the politicians that rule, not the mullahs, that dialogue between nations presupposes that the participants respect the freedom and human rights of women. The appointments that followed lasted until 2.00 pm.
That afternoon Reppas presented a report on the Greek Presidency to the Committee of Employment, while Petsalnikos did the same to the Committee of Freedom. They were both praised. Generally speaking the Presidency was a big hit!
THURSDAY: As I read the Herald Tribune I notice an interesting title, "How the West pays to keep the rest poor". The article attacks Jacques Chirac and Franz Fissler for the Common Agricultural Policy of the Union, which condemns developing countries to poverty. Naturally, the USA is also mentioned. According to the article, the agricultural subsidies of rich countries are six times larger than the total amount of aid given to developing countries. No hope for the poor, it seems...
At 10.00 am I arrive at the Roma office where a discussion will be held. They have serious problems. They face prejudice, contempt, rejection and racism at every turn. It is my turn to speak. The others listen carefully. Seated next to me is Miranda, the president, decked out in the traditional outfit. They are fighting for more attention; it is only fair. Images of gypsy settlements in Spata and Aspropyrgos come to my mind; tiny little homes of 25 square metres offering shelter to large, extended families. There don't even have water in Aspropyrgos. I try to recall Palamas' poem, the "Dodekalogue of the Gypsy"…
I only just make it for my flight to Athens. I am reading "The Nature of Love" by Papa-Faros. "A person cannot be erotic with someone, unless they are erotic in general. True love has nothing to do with possession. Love is search, a constant dialogue with our surroundings…"
FRIDAY: Bank Holiday! Arriving at my office I am greeted by security staff, i.e. my colleague. There is a lot to talk about. A pile of incoming and outgoing mail, countless phonecalls that should have been made days –if not weeks- ago. How to explain to everyone, even friends, that there just isn't enough time?
A serious obligation awaits me in the afternoon, as I must meet two extremely important figures that to a large extent determine the course of my life, maybe even my a-la-Kundera immortality (how big is my ego?!). Needless to say I am talking about my grand-daughters, Eleana and Danae, the cutest little girls in the world (yes, we are talking absolute infatuation!). There is a third one on the way!… I am greeted with so much love and adoration and I cannot but silently wonder at this show of affection, as they see me two, maybe three times a month. 7.00 pm finds the three of us seated in a box at the Athens Opera House ready to enjoy Tchaikovski's "Sleeping Beauty". What joy!
SATURDAY: I am reading the Eleftherotypia, Olga Bakomarou’s column, "Enlargements". "Nobody talks about Iraq any more", she writes. "About the children with the severed hands, about the women whose eyes have turned to deserts – it doesn't sell any longer…"
A deep sadness comes over me.
At 6.00 I am in Volos, speaking at an event organised by the Academy of Theological Studies. The theme is "Religions and Women – The problem of Violence and fundamentalism". The Metropolite of Dimitriados Ignatios is attending the event, the room is packed. On the panel I am joined by Tenny Pirri-Simognan from the World Council of Churches, Marylin Pizante from the Jewish Community, Mehrezia Meza, a Muslim woman from Paris, and Pege Kazlari, School Adviser on Theology.
The discussion was extremely interesting and finally ended at 11.00 pm instead of 8.30 pm. I think of how much better people could relate to the church if all the dioceses organised such open talks.
SUNDAY: I returned from Volos at lunchtime and went directly to my mother, Mrs Eleni, whom I haven't seen for weeks. She lives alone, is relatively young and very independent. My brother's death a year ago on Easter Sunday crushed her. She is saved by the fact that she has friends, interests, never fails to read the paper, follows the news. She is my best source of information, my own private news agency. She is a dedicated follower of both Papandreou and Simitis, knows everything about everyone, considers the Papandreou – Simitis combination unbeatable, admires Vasso and Anna Diamandopoulou and naturally doesn't even consider the possibility that PASOK may lose the next elections. She has facts to support this. My daughter Christiana adores her.
That night I am in Drapetsona, next to the harbour which is bathed in moonlight, enjoying Mikis Theodorakis's concert in memory of Gregoris Lambrakis, murdered 50 years ago to the day. The old guard of the Lambrakis clan are present. I went to bed at 2.00 am. The alarm clock is set for 6.00 am. Off to Strassburg tomorrow. Life is beautiful!