In a meeting on Monday with the Euxenos Club of European Citizens, leader of the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA-PA) Sokratis Famellos emphasised the party’s commitment to recognising the genocide of Greeks in Anatolia and supporting the descendants of Greek refugees who fled the region, according to Athens-Macedonian News Agency.
Famellos underscored the party’s ongoing support for initiatives aimed at securing international recognition for the atrocities suffered by Greek Pontian, Armenian, Assyrian, and other Christian populations at the hands of the Ottoman and Turkish states, emphasising this recognition on the basis of international law and human rights.
“We support the promotion of the international recognition of the genocide in the framework of Greece’s international initiatives and at all international fora we participate in.” he said.
“In this context, we commit to assuming new initiatives in Greece and Europe, expressing the universal demands of Greek refugees.”
Famellos voiced support for the proposal to establish a permanent inter-party committee in Parliament “to map out and implement a specific action plan for the international recognition of the genocide of Greeks in Anatolia,” while highlighting that Pontian Greeks from former Soviet Union countries face issues with housing loans and pensions.
He also highlighted that SYRIZA had publicly announced its commitment to the Road Map and Action Plan to Support Pontian Greeks in April 2023.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Euxenos Club, Assyrians in Greece, Greek Pontians, Greeks from Magnesia in Asia Minor, and other groups. The Euxenos Club represents Greek citizens from the diaspora to foster solidarity and recognise historical injustices such as the genocide of Greeks in Anatolia, and support the concerns of Greek Pontians.
This announcement comes after Famellos called for a coalition with other center-left parties last Wednesday, including the main opposition PASOK in the upcoming national elections, with the intent of ending New Democracy’s conservative rule and building political momentum before the national election. According to an interview with Dnews.gr, Famellos criticised PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis for dismissing calls for collaboration among progressive political forces.
“Only a strong SYRIZA-PS can guarantee the progressive way forward,” he said.
