The Alternate Minister of National Defence Fotis Kouvelis, in an interview he gave to the REAL newspaper (22/07/2018) and the journalist Fivos Klavdianos stated the following:
– Several months have passed. It has become obvious that the Turkish leadership does not wish for a fair trial of the two Greek military men held in Adrianople. Should Greece diplomatically negotiate their return, for humanitarian reasons?
The detention of our two military men in the Turkish prison is a clear responsibility of the Turkish side and it has exceeded the limits and dimensions of the initial incident. The Turkish leadership tries directly, and sometimes indirectly, to manipulate the situation in order to achieve a set-off between this case and the case of the eight Turkish military men.
The Hellenic Government has immediately dealt with the issue, from the first moment of our two army members arrest, within its political dimension but also in the context of human rights violation. The handing over of the Turks, who have been granted political asylum by the Hellenic Justice to the Turkish Authorities in exchange for the release of our two military men, is out of the question.
Greece is a country which acts based on the rule of law. The granting of political asylum to the eight Turkish military men constitutes a sole decision of the independent Hellenic Justice. The Turkish Authorities must understand that new burdens on the already laden with problems Greco – Turkish relations is not beneficial to anyone.
– We have recently witnessed the unexpected tension in the relations between Greece and Russia. What does the future hold for the relations of the two countries?
The decision of the Hellenic Government to deport the two Russian diplomats is absolutely justified and pertained to their actions of intervention in our country’s domestic issues. Our country, in the context of its foreign policy, has evidently strived for and maintains good relations with Russia, in multiple levels. It is my estimation that this particular incident and the consequent arising tension, will not have long-term effects on the relations of the two countries.
– What about the two modern frigates from France? Is their purchase still a possibility?
The case of new units’ acquisition by the Hellenic Navy constitutes a necessity diagnosed more than ten years ago, while the given solution was evident in a decision by the Governmental National Defence Council of 2009 towards the direction of modern French frigates. It is this decision which we try to materialise and relative talks are underway, concerning all the aspects of this case.
– Reporters say that the Prime Minister will try to signal the end of the memoranda era, through a series of financial and labour interventions at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair. What must be the social representations targeted by SYRIZA while heading to elections?
Our country, after an arduous effort, with the Greek people paying a very heavy price, is putting an end to the memoranda and the supervision after more than 8 years. The 21st August 2018 will be the starting point for a restart materialised in the words of the Prime Minister from the podium of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair. Issues which had not been dealt with, are now being raised, in order to move forward from the throes of recession. SYRIZA is fully aware of the situation, in the context of an interactive progressive relation with society. It addresses all the social layers, giving emphasis to those that have the greatest need for political representation, being at a disadvantage, experiencing exclusion, having suffered the consequences of a policy for which they had no responsibility.
– What must be the great political interventions up to the advent of the elections?
The government’s interventions will refer and will aim to the beginning of a great effort to reverse an intensely unfavourable social reality which was gradually shaped since 2010 in labour. I will indicatively mention some of the government’s initiatives pertaining to the unburdening of citizens from taxes, who have particularly suffered because of the crisis, the reintroduction of the Collective Labour Agreement, the increase of low wages limit, the protection of pensions, the enhancement of the social state and the shaping of a completely different model for the just development of economy.
– How do you judge the recent ideological stance of the New Democracy party?
We are dealing with an explosive mix. On one hand, extreme neo-liberalism, striving to crash labour vested rights, make the workforce even cheaper in the name of a foretold “development”. It tries to shrink the public sector and the public goods, to crash the social state and the welfare structures. On the other hand, a hardcore far-right agenda, constituting the tool for the application of this particular policy, leading to the shrinkage of socials rights.
– You were a supporter of the so-called progressive pole, since the beginning. Is it possible for it to exist without the Movement for Change?
The establishment of the progressive pole involves particular political convergence, giving priority to the people, their needs and rights. At the same time it involves putting an end to close relations with conservative forces and not approaching them as some top members of the Movement for Change do, on a daily basis. It involves a critical approach for the course of social – democracy in our country up until now and of course a reconsideration and redetermination in the context of the political proposal made by the Movement for Change.
– Could SYRIZA cooperate with the River party of Stavros Theodorakis before, during or after the elections?
At this moment, reality shows us that the political forces which you mention will proceed autonomously to the electoral process. What will happen depends on the terms and conditions for the convergence with the forces of Centre – Left, which ideologically begin from and refer to social – democracy.
