Athens burning
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
news report 
Wednesday April 26, 2006 14:03
by MichaelY - iawm
Rice comes and goes
Huge anti-US demonstrations in Athens
Rice’s visit in Athens was another occasion where the feelings of Greek people clashed with the desires of the Conservative ND (New Democracy) Government to play ball with the US. Rice’s position can be summarised as:
1. I want Greece to support our position in the UN Security Council when Iran is on the agenda.
2. I want Greece to commit more troops in Afghanistan and a confirmation that US forces can use freely the Souda Airbase in Crete.
3. I want Greece to support Turkey’s entry to the EU and I would like Greece to put pressure on the Cyprus Government to go easier on the issue of the occupied part of northern Cyprus
The Greek official response through its Foreign Secretary Dora Bakoyanni: “We are involved in an EU managed diplomatic process on Iran”.
So Ms Rice came, spoke and left. She left behind a city resembling Baghdad – full of broken windows, burnt cars and smelling like a chemical production outfit with the amount of sprays and teargas used by the riot police.
As Irish members of the European Social Forum are getting ready to visit Athens for the ESF meeting in a week or so, let us conclude by quoting verbatim D.Stratoulis, one of the leaders of the Greek Social Forum: “We condemn the unprovoked use of teargas and chemical sprays by the Riot Police. The Government took the unconstitutional decision of banning our demonstration. The chaos that resulted was their doing. Police and State violence will not stop us from responding to the wars they are preparing”.
