Papandreou on Mahatma Gandhi's legacy

   PASOK leader George Papandreou, in his capacity as Socialist International (SI) president, spoke in New Delhi on Monday at the ruling Congress Party's conference, where he referred to Congress founder Mahatma Gandhi's vision and values, which he said are closely linked with SI's principles, beliefs and its struggle in today's globalised society.

    Papandreou, Greece's former foreign minister, emphasised that Gandhi's life was in itself an example towards others.

    Addressing Congress delegates and international dignitaries, Papandreou presented a policy revolving around the triptych of ?peace, development and education", all in tandem with the implementation of the values related to social justice.

    He added that the international democratic and progressive movement owes a great deal to Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy is almost identified with the principles of the modern socialist movement, as expressed by the Socialist International.

    Regarding Gandhi's renowned promotion of ?non-violence" as a lever for social and political change, Papandreou said the latter was definitely not a ?weakness" of the Indian statesman's philosophy but a ?powerful practice".

    He referred to his own initiative regarding an ?Olympic Truce" for the 2004 Games, a policy that led the marching of South and North Korea athletes under one banner at the Athens Games. He also said the policy of ?non-violence" led to tangible results in Greek-Turkish relations, when he and the late Ismail Cem inaugurated a policy of rapprochement following the 1999 earthquakes in the two countries.

    Papandreou called on delegates, and through them the international peace movement, to struggle for the elimination of three walls in the world today, which are ?none other that the walls of Nicosia, Palestine and Mexico".

    Among others, he said the SI is committed to peace efforts in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Latin America, Asia and Africa, whereas he made particular reference to strife-plagued Nepal, the focus of a SI-sponsored peace initiative in 10 days.

    On Monday, Papandreou was received by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while he also met with 2006 Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Bangladesh-based Grameen micro-lending concept.

   

   

More details on the subscriber's page of APE-MPE | Subscription request form