In an interview with Greek City Times, the Piraeus B Member of the Hellenic Parliament called for the “strictest consequences at the diplomatic, economic and military levels following the horrific massacres in Tartous and Latakia provinces on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and said that all parties that have governed Greece are responsible for the Tempi train tragedy.
MP Alexandros Zerveas of the Spartiates Party discussed with Greek City Times domestic issues and regional affairs, including the Tempi tragedy and the current situation in Syria.
The Spartiates Party has been loud in demanding justice for the Tempi train tragedy. What does justice look like and who is responsible for the tragedy?
For our party, Justice is the attribution of political and criminal responsibilities for all those involved in the tragic accident at Tempi. Responsible for this tragedy are all the parties that have governed Greece from 1974 to the present.
The clientelist state, corruption, political incompetence, political impunity led to the death of 57 of our fellow human beings. Responsible for these pathologies are the parties that governed: PASOK, New Democracy and SYRIZA.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis describe a “good climate” in Greece-Turkey relations. Does this reflect reality?
Of course, these statements do not correspond to reality. Unfortunately, the Greek government is possessed by a phobic syndrome towards the regime of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Many within the government believe that the logic of appeasement is the best path for Greek-Turkish relations.
We are in favor of an active foreign policy based on the application of International Law and the Law of the Sea. Immediate expansion of our territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, declaration of an Exclusive Economic Zone and then unilateral appeal to the International Court of Justice in Hamburg, responsible for maritime jurisdiction issues.
The invocation of the supposedly good climate between the two countries is a diplomatic weapon in the hands of Turkey. Using this invocation, Turkey is asking to buy Meteor missiles from France, Eurofighter jets from Germany and F-35 jets from the USA.
Pakistan recently announced its support for Turkey on the Cyprus issue and Turkey reciprocated by affirming its support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. The two countries are in a military alliance and there is a huge community of Pakistanis residing illegally in Greece. Are they a security risk?
Due to the very close relations between Turkey and Pakistan, as you very rightly point out, the presence of Pakistani illegal immigrants is a time bomb on the very foundations of our Greek society.
Our position is their mass deportation to Pakistan or to Turkey, which is friendly to them. They came without asking us and they will leave without us asking them!
At least 1,000 people were killed in Syria on March 7 and 8, the majority Alawite and Christian civilians, including Antiochian Greek Orthodox. Can Greece do more to help the Antiochian Greeks in Syria?
The position of our party is that the new Islamic regime must absolutely respect the religious and human rights of the Greek Orthodox and all Christians. Any violation of these rights should result in the strictest consequences at the diplomatic, economic and military levels.
Greece, as a member of the European Union and as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, can and must do more. If the Islamic regime commits atrocities against the Greek Orthodox of Syria, the Greek government must provide them with asylum.
Donald Trump recently became United States president again and has taken a radically different approach to the war in Ukraine compared to his predecessor. Should Greece follow the European Union in continuing support for Ukraine or support Trump’s peace process?
Our party’s position is that the bloodshed in Ukraine must stop immediately. The Biden administration, using Zelensky as a puppet, provoked the Russian Federation to invade Ukraine.
The support of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy regime by the Greek government of Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis was a disastrous political mistake. Greece must support the peace initiatives of President Trump and reject the warmongering cries of political midgets like Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer.
The popularity of New Democracy and Mitsotakis is falling according to the polls. What can this be attributed to?
New Democracy is indeed collapsing in the opinion polls. The continued rise of prices, even in basic food items, the skyrocketing housing rents, the dramatic increase in crime of all kinds and finally the obstructionism regarding the investigation of the causes of the Tempi tragedy.
Our ambitions are the electoral strengthening of our party and our re-entry into the Greek parliament.
READ MORE: U.S. Media: Tulsi Gabbard’s Syria Warning Rings True as Al-Qaeda-Linked Forces Massacre Minorities.