Greek Leadership Congratulates President Elect Obama

Athens.- ANA
Greece’s top political leadership on Wednesday sent its warm congratulations to US President-elect Barack Obama, following the Illinois senator’s victory in Tuesday’s closely watched presidential elections in the United States.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias stressed, in his letter of congratulations, that “he (Obama) has already brought forth a breath of fresh air”.

Papoulias also underlined that “the large Greek-American community has shown appreciation for your positions on issues of Greek interest and I hope that during your term in office Greek-US relations will become stronger and more thriving.

“I look forward to meeting with you, I wish you strength and success to all your endeavours,” Papoulias concluded.

In his letter, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said Obama’s election victory “comes in a critical period”, in which “the global economy is facing a serious recession”.

The international challenges need to be urgently faced, Karamanlis said, adding that it is of exceptional importance that Europe, the United States and other partners meet these challenges united.

Karamanlis further expressed his sincerest congratulations for Obama’s “landmark victory”, noting that he looked forward to meeting with the newly elected US president in the near future.

In echoing Papoulias, Karamanlis also stressed that Greek-Americans have contributed and continue to contribute substantially to America, and expressed appreciation for the “clear and steadfast” positions that Obama has adopted on issues of Greek interest.

“We look forward to a close cooperation throughout your governance, so that these issues may be resolved, and to the advancement and enhancement of our relations at all levels,” Karamanlis’ letter concluded.

President-elect Obama will be sworn into office during an inaugural ceremony on January 20.

Main opposition PASOK leader and Socialist International (SI) president George Papandreou, in a statement, wished US President-elect Obama every success, adding that “as a Greek and as the leader of PASOK, I look forward to close cooperation with Barack Obama on the problems in our own region, so that they may be resolved in a spirit of cooperation, consolidation of peace, consolidation of values, International Law and a society of values”.

Papandreou noted that the American people, with their historic decision, turned a new page on Tuesday.

“We can make a world that respects the environment, green economic growth. In the face of immense problems, I, as president of the Socialist International, will back every effort to confront the problems of our planet, of our fellow citizens throughout the world,” Papandreou’s statement concluded.

Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group leader Alekos Alavanos underlined the positive aspect of the Obama victory, saying that “the dark era under President George W. Bush has come to an end … it is very positive that there is optimism both in the United States and the rest of the world.”

Alavanos added, however, that the United States remains a superpower with aggressive elements, while he called for vigilance to protect global peace and prosperity.

Conversely, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga on Wednesday expressed a view that the newly elected US president-elect will disappoint voters very soon, pointing out, however, that those who voted for him expressed discontent and a demand for change.

“Vigilance is necessary because the United States is still governed by hardcore capitalists,” Papariga opined, adding that it remains to be seen what the US foreign policy will be on a number of issues.

Foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis on Wednesday said that Greece looked forward to an era of great changes, good cooperation with the US, and more fruitful cooperation with the EU, in reply to press questions on Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s victory in Tuesday’s Presidential elections in the US.

Bakoyannis noted that the Greek government desired as soon as possible meetings with both with President-elect Obama and with his aides, in its capacity as the government but also that of current president of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Responding to another question, Bakoyannis said that there would be a three-month transition period for the President-elect, stressing that there has been contact with his senior staff for some time now.

She further stressed that the foreign policy of every country is determined by a large number of criteria, adding that there was continuity in the foreign ministries of every country.

Thus, Bakoyannis added, her foreign ministry would continue briefing foreign government’s on Greece’s views and national issues with the same consistency.

DANIEL SPECKHARD

Athens dailies’ front pages were thoroughly dominated on Wednesday by the news of US Sen. Barack Obama’s historic victory on Tuesday in the closely watched US presidential election, whereas Greek leadership extended laudatory congratulations to the president-elect.

Speaking at a packed banquet hall gathering of Obama supporters at a downtown Athens hotel hours earlier, US ambassador to Athens Daniel Speckhard again took the opportunity to praise the two major candidates, Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, as well as the unprecedented voter turnout and enthusiasm in America for the 2008 presidential race.

Asked about the effect an Obama administration will have on Greek-US ties, Speckhard said that “in terms of Greece, a lot of the issues, as I have said before, are going to remain important and fundamental for both Greece and the United States.

“But my sense has been that we very much have the same fundamental interests. So, whether itʼs stability in the eastern Mediterranean, whether itʼs Cyprus, whether itʼs other issues, youʼll find that the interest of the United States is to find solutions that Greece is happy with, that your neighbors, the countries involved in these issues are happy with, and that promote stability in the region.”