Jihadism, capitalism and neo-Ottomanism

Interview of Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey-TKP given to journalist Marinella Correggia and published on Italian News Portal Il Manifesto with the title of "Jihadism, capitalism and neo-Ottomanism: There is nothing good for the Syrian people" on January 3:

– About this sudden change in Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister, said he had convinced Russia and Iran in Doha not to intervene on the side of the Syrian government, otherwise it would have been a bloodbath. It means that militarily the Russian and Iranian forces would have to face huge weaponry and mercenaries supplied by forces outside the country. Which ones?

 

The KKE will not take part in anti-popular government, says Party Secretary Koutsoumbas

"The KKE won't participate in any anti-popular government", clarifies the Party's leader ahead of the Greek Parliamentary Elections of 21 May 2023. 

 

Excerpts from the interview of Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), to "Proto Thema" newspaper:

What does the term “left” mean today?

The truth is that it is a term that has been abused by many people over time, both in Greece and internationally.

Interview of Nikos Mottas to Red Star Radio

Nikos Mottas, founder and Editor in chief of "In Defense of Communism" spoke to Red Star Radio and Alexander McKay about a number of issues, including the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, the decline of the USSR and the failure of the left in Greece during the Syriza government.

Interview with KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos on the imperialist war in Ukraine

Interview of Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos concerning the imperialist war in Ukraine, originally published in "Kosmodromio" website on August 31st.

Q: I would like you to comment on the political atmosphere prevailing in the West towards Russia, "Russophobia", as the Italian journalist Giulietto Chiesa called it. We are witnessing for the first time in Europe after the Second World War that people are being prosecuted based solely on their ethnic origin and nationality, European Ministers are calling for the assassination of Putin and the overthrow of the Russian regime, attempts are being made to impose a climate of neo-McCarthyism throughout the continent. How serious a threat do you think democratic rights in the West and world peace are facing as a result of this international climate?

On Sweden and NATO: Interview of SKP leader Andreas Sörensen in Evrensel

Andreas Sörensen, the chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP), was interviewed by the left-wing Turkish newspaper "Evrensel" on the issue of Sweden's accession to NATO. Read below the text of the interview:

— "What is your approach to Sweden's (and Finland if you'd like to comment also) NATO membership process? Why are you against it?

— As communists, we oppose the strengthening of every imperialist alliance. This applies to NATO as well, in particular as it is the strongest imperialist alliance in the contemporary world. 

Sweden's communists say "NO" to NATO membership

SKP's head Andreas Sörensen.

Sweden has been following a foreign policy of neutrality for a long time. However, the ongoing imperialist war in Ukraine has caused a rise in Russophobia, thus giving the opportunity to the Swedish bourgeoisie to root for NATO membership.

Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported that the United States and Britain had promised Sweden increased military presence, more in-depth military exercises and 'strong political' support from NATO countries" during a possible NATO application process. It is expected that the Swedish government will formally express its wish to join the imperialist alliance by mid-May. 

Interview of Andreas Sörensen, chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden, to Left Magazine

Andreas Sörensen, chairman of the Communist Party of Sweden (SKP), was recently interviewed by the Sri Lankan "Left Magazine" (here in Swedish). Below you can read the full interview in English:

— First of all, we would like to make our readers aware of the Communist Party of Sweden, its history and current activities. It would also be useful if you could give a brief overview of its basic political and organizational objectives.

PCV: Maduro government is not socialist — Socialism has never been achieved in Venezuela

"This government is not socialist and in our country Socialism has never been achieved". Interview with Pedro Eusse, member of the Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV)

Within Venezuelan politics, there are many challenges to be faced by the parties, especially those of the left which are critical of the current system of government.

Among these parties is the Communist Party with its critical voice and which currently faces the contradictions of a country that can be read from various realities.

The stance of the KKE in the face of the 1990-91 overthrows in the USSR

Interview with Aleka Papariga, member of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), former General Secretary of the Party from 1991 to 2013, in "Rizospastis" concerning the stance of the KKE during the 1990-91 counterrevolutionary overthrows in the Soviet Union. 

The interview (here in Greek) was originally published in "Rizospastis" weekend edition (18-19 December 2021). English translation by Nikos Mottas.

— The bourgeois parties celebrated when the red flag was lowered from the Kremlin. What were their main declarations at that time?

Interview of the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas in "Kontra News" newspaper

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), gave an interview in the Sunday edition (14 March 2021) of "Kontra News" newspaper. 

The communist leader refers to the current political situation in Greece, the policy of New Democracy (ND) government during the Pandemic, Greece's Left political forces and the stance of the KKE. 

 Below, you can read a translated version of the interview:

Turkey and Covid-19: Interview of TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan in "Rizospastis"

In an interview with the daily newspaper of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) "Rizospastis", the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) Kemal Okuyan commented on the Covid-19 pandemic, its effects on working-class and TKP's initiatives to protect the health and rights of the workers. Okuyan noted that they have built solidarity networks organized by the district organizations of TKP:

— What is the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey? How does the TKP judge the measures of the Erdogan government and the positions of other bourgeois parties?

Interview of the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas in "New Worker"

On January 10th-12th, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas visited London where he participated in various events, including visits to the Marx Memorial Library, Tate Modern, the British Museum and Karl Marx's tomb at Highgate Cemetery. He was also the major speaker in a political event regarding Science, Research and Technology organized by the KKE at the University of London. 

During his stay in London, the KKE General Secretary talked to Theo Russell, editor of the New Worker, the weekly paper of the New Communist Party of Britain, about the current situation in Greece: 

Interview of the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas in "EfSyn" newspaper

Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), gave a comprehensive interview in the weekend edition (1-2 February) of the "Efimerida ton Syntakton" (EfSyn) newspaper. 

The KKE leader refered to various interesting issues, including Greece's domestic political matters, the country's relations with neighboring Turkey, the sinful role of social democracy and the stance of the KKE towards cooperation governments. 

Below, you can read a translated version of the interview:

SYRIZA paved the way to New Democracy — Dimitris Koutsoumbas

KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas.

"The right-wing and conservative policy of SYRIZA's government paved the way to New Democracy and PASOK, it purified and resurrected them", said Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), in his interview to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, three days before the July 7th parliamentary elections.

Koutsoumbas points out "the leadership of SYRIZA has been recorded as a "sellout" to the unjust system, to Trump and the EU Commission" and adds that many people who did not submit themselves to the system draw conclusions and support the KKE. 

Dimitris Koutsoumbas' interview on ANT1 News: On Turkey, Varoufakis and the July 7th elections

On Friday afternoon, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas gave an interview to anchor Nikos Chatzinikolaou and the news program of ANT1 TV. 

The General Secretary pointed out the need for the strengthening of the KKE in the upcoming general elections of July 7th, saying that the Communist Party is the only one that can prevent anti-people measures. He stated that the Party has immediate law proposals for the relief of the unemployed people, for lower salary at 751 euros, for the Social Insurance System and other issues related to the country's popular strata. 

Interview with Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu - Turkey's communist mayor talks to "Rizospastis"

In its weekend edition (6-7 April), the KKE daily "Rizospastis" published a short interview with Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu, the - supported by the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP)- newly elected mayor of Dersim (Tunceli Province) in the recent local elections. 

Below you can read a translated version of the interview:

-The CP of Turkey participated in the recent local elections with an alliance and achieved important experiences fighting against bourgeois mechanisms. What do you think about this experience?

Mexican Communist leader Pavel Blanco Cabrera's interview in Rizospastis

On the occasion of the 20^th IMCWP which took place in Athens in November, the First Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Mexico (Partido Comunista de Mexico) Pavel Blanco Cabrera talked to “Rizospastis”, the official newspaper of the KKE. 

In the following interesting interview, the Mexican communist leader talks about the situation in his country, the new illusions created by the “left-wing” AMLO government, the tasts of Mexican communists in a large country, a member of G20 and the 2^nd most developed economy of Latin America, with nearly 130 million people and tens of millions of immigrants in the United States:

Koutsoumbas calls for people's struggle and counter-attack with a strong KKE

“The justified indignation and dissatisfaction must be transformed into creativity and must be expressed through struggles, counter-attack and social alliance against the dipole, the monopolies and capitalist, with a powerful KKE everywhere” said the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas during an interview on 24/7 radio.

When asked whether the government will be politically legitimate after a possible departure of ANEL from the governmental alliance, Koutsoumbas said that “a government can exist event without the required formal majority. It is certainly a political issue and the government itself has to deal with it”. 

Truth and lies about Stalin - An exclusive interview with Grover Furr

On the ocassion of the 140th birth anniversary of Joseph Stalin we asked Professor Grover Furr to share with us his thoughts on some issues surrounding Stalin and the period of his leadership. Grover Furr, a Professor of medieval english literature at Montclair State University in New Jersey, is well-known for his research and writings on a vast range of issues about Soviet history. Some of his most famous books include "Khrushchev Lied", "The Moscow Trials as Evidence", Trotsky’s "Amalgams", "The Mystery of the Katyn Massacre: The Evidence, The Solution" and others. The name of Grover Furr is included in the list of the "101 most dangerous academics in America".

Kemal Okuyan: "The goal of communism is absolutely timely today"

On the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the 1917 Great October Socialist Revolution, soL news portal interviewed Kemal Okuyan, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP):

On the 7th of November, 101st anniversary of the October Revolution will be celebrated. Is there anything left to celebrate?

USSR has been collapsed, that is, the country that is founded on the basis of the Revolution now does not exist. From that point of view, it might be thought that there is nothing to be celebrated, however, the Revolution is the greatest event of the 20th century whose remains cannot be wiped off from the earth and which still continues to inspire those who are oppressed all around the world. Today, in Russia, various rock bands are playing songs saying 'Towards New Octobers".