Conference Held in the Capital of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union: "Europe Must Condemn Fascism"

ATHENS, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

This Victory Day, 9 May 2014, the Panhellenic Union of National Resistance Fighters - Democratic Army of Greece (PEAEA-DSE) hosted a roundtable titled "9 May 1945 - 9 May 2014: The Threat of Neo-Fascism in Europe" in the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece Dimitris Koutsoumpas, and Chairman of the Union of Greek Veterans Christos Tzintzilonis took part in the event, along with members of the Greek Parliament, the Latvian Saeima, Ukrainian public leaders, writers, experts, and journalists.

Regrettably, Ukrainian MP and member of the Communist Party Aleksander Prisyazhnyuk was unable to attend the conference: the new Ukrainian authorities did not allow him to leave the country. In his address to conference participants, Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko remarked, "Ukrainian Communist MPs are subject to attacks. Our activists have been beaten, threatened, and murdered. Gunmen have launched attacks on Ukrainian Communist Party offices, looting and burning our buildings and stealing our property.

In his opening address, the leader of Greek Communists spoke of the need to step up the struggle against fascism in Europe, using the example of Greece, where, as we know, several right-wing deputies were arrested on organized crime charges.

"Nearly 70 years later, some are doing all they can to extinguish the flame of true history, written in the blood of nations, and to distort history in order to indirectly, or even openly, justify the brutality of fascism", he noted.

Member of the Parliament of Latvia Igor Melnikov:

"Unfortunately, European society no longer responds to accusations of fascism. As a result, neo-fascism is rearing its head in Ukraine, Latvia, and other countries. We must undertake every effort to counteract this extremely dangerous trend as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we may see a repeat of 1939." 

Leader of the leftist Borotba Party (Ukraine) Sergey Kirichuk, the subject of persecution in Ukraine, remarked,

"Europe must shift its focus to the cities of south-eastern Ukraine. Thousands of people could die in a bloodbath, cynically labeled an 'anti-terrorist operation.' We must immediately stop this war against our own citizens who disagree with Kyiv's official position. " 

Director of the Center for Eurasian Studies (the Hague) Vladimir Kornilov:

"The rise of neo-Nazism is relevant to Europe and to Ukraine. However, unlike Europe, where radical right-wing leaders are treated as pariahs in any serious society, in Ukraine, these people receive cabinet positions as the West looks on with clear approval."  

Director of the Research & Branding Group polling agency (Ukraine) EugeneKopatko noted,

"On 9 May, we remember the millions of people who sacrificed their lives for our future. Once upon a time, the fight against fascism united Europe; and together, we can resist neo-Nazism today. Therefore, Europe's support in the fight against current Ukrainian neo-fascism is particularly needed."  

During the conference, writer Stanislav Byshok presented his new book Neo-Nazism and Euromaidan: from Democracy to Dictatorship, co-written with political scientist Alexei Kochetkov.

Not everyone has learned the lessons of the past. As a result of the recent coup , presented as a "democratic revolution", radical forces took power in Ukraine. These forces are responsible for the tragedy in Odessa on 2 May, during which the radicals burned 46 people alive. These methods take us back to the time of the Second World War." 

Conference participants were presented with the newly published brochure The Odessa Massacre, which recounts the terrible tragedy in Odessa on 2 May, when Ukrainian fascists set fire to the Trade Unions Building, which killed dozens of innocent people.