The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitris Kourkoulas stated that there has been no official request for assistance in the “major humanitarian crisis” in Syria, while opposition parties are against the country’s military involvement.
New Democracy secretary Andreas Papamimikos commented on SKAI TV that Greece will “calmly and responsibly” act according to international law and alliance obligations. Mr. Papamimikos urged action to be taken in order to prevent the humanitarian crisis turning into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Mr. Kourkoulas referred to the events in Syria, which have resulted in over 100,000 victims and millions of refugees, as “the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century” and “a crime against humanity”.
The Deputy Minister revealed that Athens “has not received an official request for assistance” and that in a possible intervention, Greece will “aim to improve our role in the region and look out for Greek interests”. He also rejected the idea that Greek politics are determined by Turkey’s moves.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister explained that a political solution is necessary in order to address the increasing number of refugees and avoid an escalation of the religious conflict.
Opposition parties object to military intervention
SYRIZA’s spokesperson Dimitris Papadimoulis commented on SKAI TV that his party is against the possibility of a Greek military involvement. Mr. Papadimoulis also explained that even if the government is obliged to assist its allies, it must express its objections.
SYRIZA also issued a press released explaining that “the UN is the only international organization that can objectively investigate the causes of the barbaric and unprecedented chemical warfare attack on innocent civilians”, adding that “only the Syrian people can bring an immediate end to such a bloody civil war”.
DIMAR announced that is in favor of finding a political solution to the Syrian conflict, while maintaining that Greece must not participate in a possible military intervention. The opposition party fears that the conflict could encourage an extended geopolitical destabilization.
The Communist Party in has organized a rally to address the escalating situation in Syria for Thursday at 7.30 pm at Syntagma Square, where KKE leader Dimitris Koutsoumpas will be present.
Representatives of the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE) and PAME protested the American, British and French military preparations for an invasion of Syria at the USA embassy in Athens.
