By Michael Karadjis
Dimitris Desyllas of the New Left Current (NAR) and Yannis Banias, from Communist and Ecological Left Renewal (AKOA), spoke to Green Left in Athens in November.
A major issue confronting the left is the European capitalist union, based on the Maastricht Treaty, to which NAR and AKOA are firmly opposed.
As Banias explained, in Maastricht Europe, "Instead of a convergence of European economies reducing inequalities, the neo-liberal politics carried out gives exclusive priority to economic indicators, widening the gaps between countries and worsening the situation within each country, as a large section of the population becomes completely marginalised".
However, there are disagreements regarding European union. NAR advocates complete withdrawal from the EEC, "because it is a union of imperialist countries against the Third World. We are in favour of the logic of internationalisation, but not only of the rich countries", Desyllas said.
In addition, "The Greek capitalist class, entering the EEC, has its position strengthened against the internal enemy", the Greek working class.
However, "We don't simply advocate a capitalist Greece out of the EEC, like the Communist Party. Rather, what is needed is a modern anti-capitalist, internationalist struggle which will represent real working class needs in the struggle against the EEC of capital ... with struggles in each country and at a pan-European level."
However, for AKOA, Banias said, "In a period when the capitalist offensive against the forces of labour in every country is being internationalised, working-class resistance must also be internationalised, and therefore we are not opposed to a process of European union — under the leadership, however, of the forces of labour.
"We are not opposed to the vision of a united Europe, but categorically to the one being created."
Both parties oppose the "social dialogue" between the Simitis government, the trade union bureaucracy and the employers, seeing it as a way of getting the union leadership to cover for the Simitis government's neo-liberal program.
Banias explains that social democracy in Greece is more successful in implementing the neo-liberal offensive due to "less resistance".
"The GSEE [General Union of Greek Workers], which is controlled by Pasok [Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement], takes some crumbs for the workers in order to agree with the basic anti-worker trend."
However, "The Workers Centre of Athens, in which Pasok does not have a majority, decided to withdraw from the social dialogue, accusing it of being purely an organ in the interests of capital".
While the recent general strike was successful, Banias said, "One strike is not enough, because the government is determined to push through these measures. Workers will also pay for the recent financial crisis; already the government is declaring that wage rises will be smaller than promised."
An arms race is taking place between Greece and Turkey. While most political forces in Greece promote the view that Turkey is the only party at fault, NAR interprets this rivalry as "a conflict between two marginal imperialist states".
Formal differences (territorial waters, continental shelf)reflect rivalry over "the oil under the Aegean Sea, the control of the oil pipelines from the Caspian Sea, most of which will come out through the Aegean Sea, and over new markets and investments in the Balkans and former Soviet republics".
Desyllas sees Greece as "stronger economically, but balanced by Turkey being stronger militarily, plus having a geo-strategic position close to the oil reserves", which gives it a favoured position for US imperialism.
Greece is emerging as an imperialist country in its own right, and "openly talks of the Balkans as its hinterland". Greece is now number one foreign investor in Macedonia, number two in Albania and number six in Bulgaria. Greek and Italian capital have also bought half of Serbian Telecom, and Greek companies are poised to play a major role in a new round of privatisations currently taking place there.
Desyllas believes that "both sides are proceeding towards division of Cyprus". While clearer with the Turkish occupation of the north, this is reflected on the Greek side by the "united defence dogma" between Greece and Cyprus, the introduction of Russian SS-300 missiles and the Greek military base at Paphos. "In Cyprus rivalry is heading towards 'hot' war."
Banias believes that "If a war broke out, it would not last long, because it is not in the interests of NATO to have a war between two of its members.
Yet "the maintenance of tension between the two countries is in US interests, because in an atmosphere of peace and friendship, they would be able to share the wealth under the Aegean, which the US wants to control through acting as the gendarme".
AKOA believes that "We need to go beyond negotiations between governments, to promotion of greater understanding between the two peoples based on internationalism. This has begun with meetings which occur systematically between social organisations, political parties, journalists, trade unions etc.
"This is the way to break down the fear and hate which are cultivated in both countries. This cannot solve the problems, but it is a guarantee the cold war does not become hot."