ITALY: GREEK SOCIALIST OPPOSITION LEADER PAPANDREOU SAYS GREEK GOVERNMENT'S PLANS FOR EARLY ELECTION ARE UNACCEPTABLE.

Record ID: 647101

  • Title: ITALY: GREEK SOCIALIST OPPOSITION LEADER PAPANDREOU SAYS GREEK GOVERNMENT'S PLANS FOR EARLY ELECTION ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
  • Date: 20th September 1974
  • Summary: 1. GV&SCU Pressmen seated around table (2 shots) 0.13 2. SV Papandreou speaks.... 1.57 PAPANDREOU: We believe that the whole Greek People is disappointed and considers unacceptable the setting of such an early date for elections. And this is not simply because there will be no time for the Greek people to organise itself in party structures and to proceed effective political action, but primarily because the Greek state today is an extension of the state of the Junta. There has been no cleansing of the state, no punishment of those guilty for the events of seven years and of Cyprus. It is the view of the Pan Hellenic Socialist movement that I represent, that the Cyprus question cannot be discussed in the context of Geneva and in the presence of Great Britain, Turkey, Greece and the United States. For these NATO countries are responsible for the events which have led to the effective partition of the island and to the ugly invasion of the island by NATO troops. The only proper context is the United Nations, where it should be made clear to all that Cyprus is an independent state. And as an independent state and a member of the United Nations it deserves exactly the some considerations as any other independent state. Initials ET/325 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th October 1974 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA67BCVWXF8XN2JWG7GMQMJV2Y0
  • Story Text: The Greek Socialist Opposition Leader, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, said on Friday (20 September) that the Greek Government's plans for an early election were totally unacceptable to the Greek people.

    Mr. Papandreou was speaking at a press conference in Rome during a brief visit to Italy for talks with Italian socialist leaders.

    Greece cleared the way for its first parliamentary elections in ten years on Thursday (19 September) when the cabinet approved new electoral laws. An authoritive source said that polling will probably take place in Mid-November
    Mr. Papandreou outlined the factors which governed his assessment of the electoral situation in Greece. He Said that such an early date did not give the people time to organise themselves for an election. He added that particularly in rural areas they would not be able to express themselves freely because the repressive apparatus set up under military rule was still in place.

    He also talked abut the Cyprus crisis and maintained that a solution would best be found in the context of the Untied Nations.

    A transcript of his speech follows:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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