At an extraordinary Press Conference held on the 23rd of March 1999, Nicos Constantopoulos, President of SYNASPISMOS, stated the following:

"Mr Clinton's statement concerning the NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia, which implied our country's involvement in the war, reveals a wider destabilising plan. This raises a serious issue of great responsibilities for our government.

Peace in Kosovo and the Balkans hangs by a thread.

We express our anxiety and our hope for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

A NATO military intervention and bombing of Yugoslavia will have dramatic repercussions in our area and a direct impact on Greece.

Synaspismos is resolutely against to the use of military force by NATO for the resolution of political problems, which can be solved only through diplomatic and political means.

The unacceptable theory that NATO has a "permanent intervention mandate", opens the dangerous paths of destabilisation by the provocative violation of International law.

Synaspismos' unequivocable position is that the peaceful solution of the problem can be attained through the granting of a broad autonomy to the Albanians, within the existing frontiers and with full respect to the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia.

The war-mongering scenarios that are being promoted violate the basic principle of the inviolability of frontiers and open dangerous roads of destabilisation, turning the Balkans into an area under surveillance.

The Greek government has serious responsibilities. It got involved by providing assistance for a unilateral military intervention and continues until today to allow the passage of NATO troops through Greek territory. Synaspismos calls on the government at this very last moment :

• To oppose, within NATO's framework, any decisions regarding war intervention.
• To refuse any participation of Greek forces to acts that will support the NATO air strikes.
• To stop immediately all assistance to NATO forces and within this framework to suspend the activities of the NATO bases which could be used during the crisis.
• To put the matter to the Summit Meeting in Berlin and ask for an intervention by the EU to stop the air raids.

Finally, I would like to add one more comment.

Tomorrow, at the Berlin Summit Meeting, a series of issues will be discussed, issues that are very important for the future of Europe and therefore Greece. Among them the possibility of war involvement.

Mr. Simitis, once again, failed to inform the other parties and discuss their views. He insists on the same futile tactics.

I wish the Kossovo crisis will be resolved through peaceful and political means".

Athens, 23 Marxh 1999