“ADESMEOFOS of Sunday”

There is a need for modernization of the European Union’s social model.
Interview with Stelios Bamiazti	24.02.2003

Public figures, and especially politicians in our country, have been accused several times of using “wooden language” and being conventional. However, there are also politicians whose message and discourse have been even heretical, provoking the anger of organizations and parties, but also earning praise for the boldness with which it was expressed.

The MEP of PASOK, Ms. Anna Karamanou, expressing the opinion that the “prohibition” of women from Mount Athos should be abolished, provoked a variety of reactions. A discussion with her on human rights, Greece’s stance on the impending war in Iraq, and the possibility of a female prime minister in Greece can only be extremely interesting.

Ms. Karamanou, I would like to start this interview with a piece of breaking news. The European Union has condemned Turkey for the ban it imposed on a Turkish Cypriot doctor from traveling to the non-occupied side of Cyprus. How common is it for a country to be condemned by the EU for human rights violations?

– In the plenary session of January, we had the presentation of the annual report on human rights violations across the Community. If you read this report, you will see that all EU countries are criticized, without exception. Even countries with a long tradition of democracy and respect for human rights, such as the Scandinavian countries. We are talking about countries like Finland, which is criticized for the same reason as Greece, regarding conscientious objectors. However, the issue is the extent of this violation. When we talk about Turkey, we are talking about a very serious problem, much more serious than in Greece, Germany, or other countries. In any case, when talking about human rights in the 21st century, I believe we are discussing the equivalent of the class struggle issue in the 19th century. Now, the battle, the struggle, is for the respect of human rights. That will be the focus of the struggle in the 21st century.

As a Member of the European Parliament, you experience closely the processes within the EU, with the Greek presidency now, regarding the impending war in Iraq and the efforts being made to prevent it. What scope do you believe exists in terms of applying pressure on the USA and their allies in order to avoid the war?

– I think that the Greek presidency took a very good initiative by convening an emergency European Council, the Summit, which ended in great success. A common goal was found, and Greece took on several initiatives, and now our country is no longer marginalized, as it was previously said, and today we are influencing developments. The course of the Greek presidency has been quite successful so far, we still have four months to go, but so far it has been going very well, in a very difficult context within the EU.

Greece has stood in favor of a peaceful resolution, in favor of dialogue, and peaceful disarmament of Iraq, always within the framework of the United Nations’ decisions. And it has managed to convey this position to all countries. In Europe, they are talking about a great success of the Greek presidency.

You say that the work of the Greek presidency is positive. From which perspective, Mrs. Karamanou? Is the assessment positive in terms of our efforts to combat the war, or in balancing the different trends within the Community?

It is natural for this to happen. We are dealing with different policies, different cultures… it is natural for the Greek presidency to try to balance and find points of contact through all the contradictions, the different perspectives that exist within the EU. And in this role, it has done very well. It was able to unite the Members of the European Parliament and the policies. Also, I believe that what happened on Monday in Brussels has an impact on U.S. policy. That is, although there are feverish preparations for war, the U.S. will not dare to strike without having secured widespread support. After all, we have already seen this. After September 11, all their anxiety was about forming a broad coalition against terrorism. They do not want to act unilaterally; they seek the favor and harmony of the others.

That’s why the obsession of Bush to proceed against the opinion of the other states is curious, causing a rift in NATO, in the EU, almost everywhere.

I do not agree with sterile anti-Americanism, after all, we cooperate closely with them, they are not from another planet. But the fact that they are essentially the only superpower also creates phenomena of arrogance. Of course, it is right that we maintain an anti-war stance, but not sterile anti-Americanism. 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 from Hussein. However, Europe must play a different role in the international political arena and not be dragged behind the chariot of whatever decisions the USA makes. It is a process… of emancipation.

You talked about emancipation and it reminded me that you have occasionally expressed “feminist positions,” about how much better the world’s political scene would be if power were equally shared between men and women. In fact, you have linked this argument with violence in the international political arena…

– Sweden, to give an example, has 47% women in parliament and a government with members equally divided, as many men as women. Sweden is a country that is not associated with acts of violence, but with initiatives for peace and the protection of the environment, while it is the country with the best social infrastructure. Why shouldn’t we say that the participation of women contributed to the creation of this welfare state, this peaceful approach to issues of conflict?

– Why not? Here in Turkey, there was a female prime minister, and why can’t one be elected in Greece?

Yes, I see a female prime minister in Greece and I see quite a few… who could be prime ministers.

– Vasso Papandreou, Anna Diamantopoulou, Dora Bakoyannis, Maria Damanaki, Marieta Giannakou… they could easily be not only prime ministers but also Presidents of the Republic. I would really like Vasso Papandreou as President of the Republic. Or Dora Bakoyannis.