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International Media Newsletter, 04-Dec-2009

December 4, 2009 | categories : Updates

Interview to CNN

In an exclusive interview to CNN, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou assured markets that the Greek economy is on a stable and realistic path of growth and reduced budget deficits.  “There is zero risk of defaulting” Papandreou said to CNN’s John Defterios, “We are a responsible country, a country with great potential…”. (full transcript)

Renewing Europe’s Security Dialogue

In advance of the meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting in Athens, the Greek PM – who is chairman-in-office of the body – gave his thoughts.

Mr Papandreou said that, twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe’s security system was under serious threat from unresolved conflicts, new challenges and pressures such as climate change and organized crime. By contrast, there have been positive developments – a thaw in relations between the US and Russia, and the appointments of a European president and foreign affairs representative.

Socialist International in the Dominican Republic

In his role as president of the Socialist International, George Papandreou attended a council meeting in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic. In his address, he thanked members for their support in the period leading up to the recent Greek elections. Change was essential, and socialist ideals were key drivers of that change, given the failure of unchecked capitalism. But that change had to be democratic – the current economic crisis arose because democratic institutions were in thrall to multinational companies and the banking system was not sufficiently transparent. This led to increases in inequality, unemployment and poverty, as well as causing people to look for a better future by emigrating.

One solution was green development – simultaneously fighting the effects of climate change and providing new employment and business opportunities, on a global basis. The economic gap between developed and developing worlds needed to be bridged, with knowledge and technology made available to all. The upcoming climate change summit in Copenhagen would be a significant milestone as immediate action was necessary.

Reduced rates of growth meant that aid from rich to poor countries had to be maintained. Also, the crisis could not be used by right-of-centre regimes to reduce workers’ rights – full employment remained a firm goal. So, too, global stability needed to be preserved, with disarmament, peace and the restriction of nuclear weapons all still priorities. Socialist International would make its presence felt wherever there was injustice in the world, Mr Papandreou concluded.

Tripartite Talks at Prespes

Mr Papandreou met his counterparts Sali Berisha and Nikola Gruevski, from Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia respectively, at Pyli Dimou, Lake Prespes on November 27th. The wetlands are shared between the three countries and, in a joint statement, the leaders referred to their countries’ successful collaboration in safeguarding the area since it was declared a park in 2000, and looked forward to continuing the work in the future: an agreement guaranteeing the protection and sustainable development of the area will be signed by the three countries on February 2nd 2010 – the tenth anniversary of the original agreement, and International Wetlands Day.

In a separate statement, Mr Papandreou pointed out the four results that his initiative had achieved. First, that the three countries had sent a letter to the secretary general of the United Nations and to the European Union outlining the agreement they had come to – one which the Greek PM saw as a model of the co-operation that could be achieved between Balkan countries.

Second, that green development of this kind was a viable way to combat the economic crisis. Third, that Greece would press for all Western Balkan countries to become members of the European Union by 2014, thus ending disagreements dating from the start of the Great War one hundred years earlier. And, finally, that the meeting had been an opportunity for the three leaders to discuss significant mutual concerns.