SYRIA: Caught in the vice of capitalism and war

Interview with Eliseos Vagenas, member of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece  (KKE) and Head of the International Relations Section of the Party, published on Rizospastis, the organ of the CC of the KKE, on 14 December 2024:

—  We are witnessing turbulent developments in Syria. Before we get into the facts, let us consider a less discussed aspect. Why is Syria so important? What is its significance in the Middle East?

Communist Parties react to the developments in Syria and the fall of al-Assad Government

Statements by Communist and Workers' Parties (SolidNet) concerning the latest developments in Syria and the fall of Damascus to the jihadists and opposition forces that led to the overthrow of the Assad authority after five decades:

Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

The intervention in Syria and the domination of the jihadists is another link in the chain of the dangerous developments for the peoples that the imperialist powers of the USA, the EU, NATO, Turkey and Israel are carrying out in the wider Middle East region. It is a continuation of the ongoing massacre of the Palestinian people, the attacks on the Lebanese people and the targeting of Iran.

The KKE expresses solidarity with the communists and the people of Syria

During a speech at a party event in the city of Larisa on Sunday afternoon, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas, referred to the ongoing developments in Syria and the capture of Damascus by the Syrian "opposition forces". 

More specifically, Koutsoumbas said:

"In Syria, another war zone has been ignited on the global chessboard of imperialist competitions. There is another intervention that portends new sufferings for the people of Syria and the peoples of the region, new waves of refugees, possibly new border changes. 

Communist Party of Turkey: "In Syria, Israel and the USA have won a temporary victory using the jihadists"

On the occasion of the fall of Damascus in the hands of the armed jihadists and the alleged overthrow of the Assad government, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) issued the following statement:

"The plan put into effect by the US imperialism and the reactionary forces in the region about 15 years ago in order for the disintegration of Syria has succeeded as of yesterday. The jihadist forces mobilised by the USA, Israel, Britain and the AKP government overthrew the Syrian government in a short period of one week.

KKE condemns Israel's deadly hybrid attack in Lebanon and Syria

In a statement, the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemns the recent deadly hybrid attack of Israel in Lebanon and Syria. More specifically, the statement (here in Greek) reads:

The KKE condemns the long-planned terrorist attack of the state of Israel in Lebanon and Syria in an unprecedented murderous way, blowing up the pagers, mobiles and walkie talkies held by thousands of people, thus resulting in at least 12 deaths and thousands injured, including children. 

Syrian Communist Party denounces the detention of comrade Abdul Rahman Khalil

In a statement, the Central Secretariat of the Syrian Communist Party denounced the arrest of comrade Abdul Rahman Khalil and demands his immediate release:

"On July 10, departments affiliated with the so-called “Self-Administration” in northeast Syria arrested Comrade Abdul Rahman Khalil, the nominated member of the Political Bureau of the Syrian Communist Party and a member of the People’s Assembly (Parliament), due to his participation in the electoral campaign for the People’s Assembly (Parliament). Comrade Abdul Rahman refused to sign a pledge not to participate in this campaign in exchange for his release.

Security threat: Ottomanism, Islamism, Kurdism, Turkism and Imperialism!

Security threat: Ottomanism, Islamism, Kurdism, Turkism and Imperialism!

 

On the evening of January 12, many soldiers were killed and wounded. The attack did not take place within Turkey’s borders, but instead beyond them.

We know that the real reason for Turkey’s military presence in foreign lands, especially in Syria and Iraq, is the insatiable greed for profit of the capitalist class.

Greek communist MEPs call the EU to lift sanctions against earthquake-hit Syria

With a letter addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the MEPs of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Kostas Papadakis and Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, demand the immediate lift of the embargo against Syria.

More specifically, as 902 portal reported, the two KKE eurodeputies write:

Türkiye — Suriye halkları ile dayanışma | التضامن مع شعوب تركيا — سوريا | Solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria

Greece's PAME calls for material aid to earthquake-hit people of Turkey and Syria: "You are not alone"

In a statement following the devastating earthquake that hit regions of South Eastern Turkey and Syria, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) expresses its full proletarian solidarity and calls for the collection of material aid for the earthquake-hit people:

"PAME stands by our brothers and sisters, the workers and the peoples of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and all the neighboring countries affected by the massive earthquake in the morning of Monday, 6 February. We are shocked to see the images, especially from the region at the epicentre of the earthquake, where once again natural phenomena have victimised the poor people.

KKE expresses full solidarity with the earthquake-hit people of Turkey and Syria

Statement by Dimitris Koutsoumbas, General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), concerning the disastrous earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria:

"We express our full solidarity with the peoples of Turkey and Syria, who currently need urgent and coordinated international aid to rescue the missing persons and provide effective support to the people affected by the earthquake. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and our wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

Trade unionist leader Muhammad Shaban Azouz dies

Muhammad Shaban Azouz, prominent trade unionist leader from Syria and former President of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), died on Monday in Damascus, aged 70. 

Azouz, a native of Aleppo, was a long-time member of the central leadership of Al-Baath Arab Socialist Party.

In a statement, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) stresses out:

"With great sorrow, the WFTU informs about the passing away of comrade Mohammad Shaban Azouz who served as president of the WFTU.

Turkish communists condemn Erdogan's attack in Syria and north Iraq

In a statement concerning the air strikes of the Turkish Armed Forces on Kurdish settlements in Syria and Iraq, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) stresses out:

"Following the bombing attack on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street last week, the Turkish Armed Forces has been conducting air strikes on Kurdish settlements in Syria and Iraq since last night. Alleging that this operation is carried out on the pretext of “defense”, the AKP government is once again concealing the truth.

KKE denounces Turkey's air strikes in Syria, north Iraq

The new Turkish military offensive in Syria and northern Iraq consists a demonstration of power under the compliance of USA, EU and Russia, reads a statement issued by the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

More specifically, the statement reads (here in Greek):

"The KKE denounces Turkey's new unacceptable air strike on the Kurdish areas of Syria and Northern Iraq, which is added to the military operations of the previous period and the maintenance of the Turkish occupation of Syrian lands and military forces on Iraq's territory. 

KKE condemns U.S. air strikes in Syria: Those who cultivated expectations about the Biden presidency are exposed

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered on Thursday the launching of air strikes against buildings in eastern Syria that the Pentagon said were used by “Iranian-backed militias”, in retaliation for rocket attacks on American targets in Iraq. According to the London-based “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights”, at least 22 people have been killed by the strikes.

U.S. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby portrayed the bombing in Syria as “carefully calibrated” calling it “proportionate” and “defensive”. 

10 years after the illusion of the "Arab Spring"

It was like yesterday, 10 years ago, when an event that took place in Tunisia was to go down in history. It was the self-immolation, out of desperation, of young fruit seller Mohamed Bouazizi outside the local governor's office at the small town of Sidi Bouzid. It was an act which marked a wave of protests that the bourgeoisie named “Arab Spring” and which continued in Northern African countries, Libya, Egypt and crossed into Syria. In fact, opportunist forces, like SYRIZA in our country, talked about a “popular revolution”. 

Refugee Crisis: Militant intervention by Greek communists in the developments

The following article provides a thorough outline of the position and initiatives of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) regarding the ongoing refugee situation in the borders between Greece and Turkey and the Greek islands: 

Militant intervention by the communists in the developments concerning the Refugee question

By Nikos Sofianos*

Greece must not become EU's refugee prison, says KKE MEP Kostas Papadakis

Communist Party (KKE) eurodeputy Kostas Papadakis.

The immense responsibilities of the European Union and NATO in the creation and perpetuation of the refugee situation in the Greek-Turkish borders, as well as the need for the abolition of EU's Dublin Regulation and the EU-Turkey migrant deal, were highlighted by Kostas Papadakis, MEP for the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), during his intervention at the EU Parliament’s plenary in Brussels. 

More specifically Papadakis pointed out the following:

Dimitris Koutsoumbas on refugee crisis: "Dublin Regulation, EU-Turkey deal must be abolished"

The General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas gave an interview to “Real News” newspaper where, among other things, he refered to the ongoing refugee situation in the Greek-Turkish borders. Below you can read the excerpts of his answers:

“There is no greatest depravity than using uprooted, tortured people for your own aspirations, like Erdogan does, who blackmails for more support by the EU and NATO for his intervention in Northern Syria as well as in his other plans. For that reason, the needed protection of the borders can neither target the refugees nor acquitting EU and NATO which uproot people and have led to the entrapment of thousands of refugees in the Aegean islands and in Evros, thus playing Erdogan’s game. And certainly it cannot be utilized for the emboldenment of reactionary, racist voices”.

Statement of the Political Bureau of the KKE on the refugee crisis in Greek-Turkish borders

On March 3, 2020, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement regarding the refugee situation in the Greek-Turkish borders and the measures announced by the government. You can read previous statements by the KKE about the issue here and here. 

The statement is the following:

The latest developments, with the entrapment of thousands of refugees and immigrants on the Aegean islands and at the Greek-Turkish border in Evros, confirm once again that the EU and NATO policy that the Greek governments have followed and are fervently adhering to now is, on the one hand, responsible for the dissolution of countries and the uprooting of peoples and on the other,  for the entrapment of uprooted peoples on islands and at borders. This policy has paved the way for Erdogan to try to impose his own objectives, using the refugee situation as a vehicle.