The Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General for International Economic Relations, Giorgos Tsipras, met on 30 November with the UN Independent Expert Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, within the framework of the latter’s visit to our country and regarding the issue of the repercussions of States’ External Debts for the rights of citizens. The meeting was the first of a series of meetings of the UN Independent Expert with Ministers and government officials, members of the academic community and Civil Society.
Mr. G. Tsipras briefed Mr. Bohoslavsky on the course of the government’s work, underscoring the government’s principle and will regarding respect for citizens’ economic, social and political rights. He highlighted that the new government is making a major effort – with particular emphasis on vulnerable population groups – to limit the negative repercussions of the programme being implemented.
Mr. G. Tsipras referred to the strong negative repercussions of the austerity policies imposed by the lenders in previous years for a large portion of the population – particularly for vulnerable social groups and the young – as well as for sensitive sectors such as health, education and social security.
He also noted the fact that, from 2011 to 2014, during the implementation of the toughest memorandum policies, there was even restriction of political rights, with the characteristic example of suppression of popular protest movements through the excessive use of violence and chemicals by the police.
Finally, he referred to the refugee issue and the greatly increased refugee flows through our country, underscoring the great effort being made by the country’s authorities, with the solidarity of the people, who, despite the difficult economic situation, and in contrast to other European countries, responded positively. He also noted the need for economic and technical assistance from the international community, as well as the contradiction of such economically restrictive measures being imposed by the lenders at a time when we are being called upon to face the major humanitarian crisis of the refugee issue.
December 3, 2015