THE EMANCIPATION OF EUROPE HAS BEGUN

Newspaper ADESMEUTOS TIS KIRIAKIS

Interview with Stelios Bamiatzis

24.02.2003

Greek personalities in the public limelight, especially politicians, have often been accused for their "wooden", conventional language. Some politicians however, are bold enough to express different principles and views, often seen as bordering on the heretical. They have encountered the indignation of affected public entities and parties, but also acclamation for daring to speak out.

PASOK's Euro-MP Anna Karamanou has advanced the view that the ban on women visiting Mt. Athos should be lifted – drawing a wide range of reactions.

A discussion with Mrs. Karamanou regarding human rights, the position of Greece as against the impending war in Iraq, and the prospect of having a woman Prime Minister in Greece cannot but be very interesting indeed!

- Mrs. Karamanou, I would like to begin this interview with reference to a news item that just came in. The European Union has condemned Turkey for the prohibition it imposed on a Turkish-Cypriot doctor who wanted to travel to the unoccupied part of Cyprus. Is this usual, to have the EU condemning a country because of human rights violations?  

- In our plenary session in January we discussed the annual report on human rights violations in all EU countries. Read it. It contains charges against all EU member-states – not excluding those with a long tradition of democracy and respect for human rights, such as the Scandinavian countries. Finland for instance, has been denounced for the same reason that Greece has in the past, namely on the issue of conscientious objectors to military service. However, what is important is the degree and frequency of the violations. Turkey has very serious problems - far more serious than in Greece, Germany, or other countries.  

The question of human rights in the 21^st century is analogous to the question of the class struggle in the 19^th century. This is the time to fight to establish respect for human rights. This is the struggle of the 21^st century. 

- As a member of the European Parliament, and particularly at this time of the Greek Presidency, you have an inside view of EU considerations regarding the impending war in Iraq and the efforts made to prevent it. To what degree do you think that it is still possible to bring pressure upon the USA and its allies towards avoiding the conflict?  

- I think that the Greek Presidency was absolutely right in convening an extraordinary session of the European Council, the very successful Summit Meeting. We formulated a number of common objectives, and Greece assumed a number of initiatives proving that it is not a marginal force in the EU, but capable of influencing developments. The course of the Greek Presidency has been very positive up to now. There are four more months to go, at a very difficult time for the EU.  

Greece supports a peaceful resolution, dialogue, and the peaceful disarmament of Iraq, always in the context of relevant UN resolutions. It was also able to persuade all EU member-states to adopt this position. In Europe they are saying that the Greek Presidency has been a marked success. 

- You are saying that the Greek Presidency has done good work. In what exactly though? Have we succeeded in opposing war? Have we managed to balance the differing views within the Community? 

- Naturally, we must try to attain such a balance. The Union encompasses many different policies, many different outlooks. The Greek Presidency has tried to balance the various views and identify ideas we all share, despite other disagreements. It managed this role very well indeed. It was able to bring together the Euro-MPs and the policies they represent.

I also think that Monday's developments in Brussels will influence US policy. Even though the military preparations have reached fever pitch, they will not dare to invade unless they have obtained widespread consent. We have already seen this: after September 11 the Americans have been trying desperately to form a broad alliance against terrorism. They do not wish to operate unilaterally. They seek the support and understanding of all the others.

Thus the insistence shown by the Bush administration to proceed against the wishes of the other countries seems strange… Such a policy will create divisions within NATO, within the EU, everywhere… Personally I am against shallow anti-Americanism – after all, we have close ties with the Americans, they are not from some other planet. However, the fact that they are now the only super-power can lead them to displays of arrogance. So we are right in maintaining an anti-war stance rather than an unproductive, merely anti-American position.

There is no doubt that Saddam must be disarmed, that he is a dictator, and that the people of Iraq suffer not only from the embargo, but also because of his regime. Europe however must assume an independent role in the global political arena, and not follow blindly the US in whatever it decides to do. It is a process of …emancipation. 

- You mention emancipation. This brings to mind the "feminist views" you have expressed in the past, saying how much better the world's political arena would be if power was equally shared between men and women. You have even linked this to eliminating violence in global political affairs... 

- In Sweden, to mention one example, 47% of the MPs are women, and ministerial posts are equally shared between men and women. Sweden is a country that has rejected violence. It is known for advancing peace and protection of the environment, for having the best social structures in the world. Why not deduce that the participation of women has contributed to the making of this social state, this peaceful approach to issues of conflict? 

- Do you "see" a woman Prime Minister in Greece, if not right now, in a few years? 

- Why not? Turkey has had a woman Prime Minister, why not Greece? So yes, I do see a future woman Prime Minister. Actually I can think of several. 

- Such as? 

- Such as Vaso Papandreou, Anna Diamantopoulou, Dora Bakoyanni, Marieta Yannakou. Vaso Papandreou would make an excellent President. So would Dora Bakoyanni.