UNFAIR REPORT	Newspaper CITY PRESS
Interview with Yannis Maragoulis	13.6.2003

 

 

Anna Karamanou, PASOK MP in the European Parliament, says that the State Department cannot treat Greece like a third-world country..

 

- What are your views on the State Department report denouncing Greece for the widespread trafficking of women? 

- I believe it is unfair to class Greece in a position lower than countries such as Albania, Angola, Nigeria, Uganda, Moldova, or Bangladesh in fighting prostitution.

- What is the Greek position against the possibility of the US imposing sanctions?

- I consider it unthinkable that we should be threatened in this way. Previously the US accused us because of terrorism, and now that this matter has been closed they have discovered the issue of women's mistreatment. Why should the US assume this condescending stance and "classify" countries according to its own criteria? Enough is enough! Treating us like a third-world country and threatening with cuts in the economic aid we receive if we do not comply, is really going too far.

- So the report has no element of truth?

- No one disputes that the problem exists. But the specific report in no way reflects current realities in Greece. Perhaps it reflects conditions that applied two years back, but not now. The situation has changed, through the great efforts made on all levels.

- Did the delay in passing the Presidential Decree aggravate the situation?

- Possibly a problem did arise in connection with the Presidential Decree. However, I should add here that the competent officer in the Ministry of Justice faced serious health problems, and this slowed things down. But I would not say that Greece failed to tackle the problem. After all, last fall all parties in Parliament voted for a law providing for very severe sentences on procurers. Therefore we are applying specific policies on this issue - a problem that affects not only Greece, but the entire European Union. I feel deeply offended by this attempt by the Americans to slander our country.

- But we do need to make a stronger effort?

- We do. Not in order to "pass the American test", but in the context of fighting the networks trafficking in women and children. But I wonder how a foreign service reached such conclusions.

- Meaning?

- The State Department accuses Greece of inertia. In truth, the Greek state is daily proving its concern for this issue. The Athens Archbishopric set up a centre to shelter women who have been mistreated. Greek women's associations have also been very active. It is outrageous on the part of the Americans to level such accusations at our country at a time when Greece, holding the EU presidency, is at the epicentre of the world's attention. Even worse, they have deeply offended Greek women, who are accused of inertia on an issue that concerns them directly. Both Mrs. Diamantopoulou and I have raised this matter before the competent institutional forums.

 

I would like to add that I also have submitted a related project, in the context of the European Immigration Observatory, for the creation of a Centre to shelter mistreated children and women who have been victims of sexual exploitation.