Protest against the inauguration of the Greek presidency in Brussels – The Brussels Greek Solidarity Initiative

About 100 Belgians and Greeks mounted a protest outside the first public event of the Greek EU presidency in Brussels, denouncing barbaric austerity policies.

Due to fears of protests, no minister of the Greek government appeared in front of a public of diplomats, EU civil servants and other officials. The speech of the Greek ambassador in Belgium was interrupted by activists who asked the resign of the Samaras government and deployed a banner saying: “Samaras is a criminal, the EU is his accomplice – Troika get out – Solidarity to Greece”.

Outside the event, protesters held a theatrical action with Greek government leaders Samaras and Venizelos wimping sectors of society severely hit by the bail-out programs: workers, immigrants, the unemployed, education and health. They also distributed leaflets to those entering the event.

Video of the protest by Zin TV http://www.zintv.org/Presidence-grecque-de-l-UE

One week ago, the ceremony of taking over the EU presidency in Athens was marked by the ban of a demonstration protesting it and it violent repression.

A representative of the Greek Solidarity Initiaitive said: “the Greek presidency symbolizes the authoritarianism and social barbarism economic elites want to impose all over Europe. This horrible experiment has to stop now”.

Erik Demeester of the Belgian anti-austerity committees (CAE) said: “Just like in Greece, Belgian elites tell us the crisis is over. We know it’s not true and we prepare for long term struggles”

Mamadou Bah, a Guinean immigrant who has been victim of Golden Dawn purges in Greece and member of CADTM said: “austerity policies gave rise to fascism in Greece. We have to fight both austerity and fascism all over Europe”.

Pictures: http://solidarity-greece.blogspot.be/2014/01/ommunique-de-presse-acte-de.html

The Brussels Greek Solidarity Initiative

http://solidarity-greece.blogspot.be/ - https://www.facebook.com/initiative.solidarite

A group of Greeks living and working in Brussels aiming at informing the Belgian public about popular struggles in Greece and contributing in forging solidarity between struggles in the two countries.

Comités Action contre l’Austérité en Europe (επιτροπές κατά της λιτότητας)
http://www.comitesactioneurope.net/ - https://www.facebook.com/ComitesActionEurope

A group of unionists, civil society activists and citizens mobilising against EU austerity policies in Belgium.

Comité pour l’annulation de la dette du Tiers Monde (CADTM)
http://cadtm.org/ - https://www.facebook.com/groups/388480097830584/

Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt

Source: http://solidarity-greece.blogspot.be/2014/01/ommunique-de-presse-acte-de.html