Greeting of General Secretary of EDON, Ch. Karamanos, in the Great Concert for the 70th anniversary of AON-EDON
Comrade General Secretary of the CC of AKEL Andro Kyprianou,
Comrade Demetris Christofias, former President of the Republic of Cyprus,
Comrade Nikola Papadimitriou, President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth,
We warmly welcome you to this great cultural event of EDON. We warmly welcome the remarkable performers and songwriters who accepted our invitation to honor the celebrations of the 70th anniversary AON-EDON, on this special evening.
We thank them from our heart, for giving us this unforgettable music concert with songs that marked many generations and became a symbol for the struggle for life and dignity. Songs that have become inspiration for people to fight for justice.
We especially thank the musician Thymios Papadopoulos, who took the responsibility of directing this amazing music production.
We warmly welcome you all. Members of EDON of all ages.
Looking to the future, we honor the 70th anniversary of AON-EDON, the biggest youth organization of Cyprus. With feelings of pride, we honor the glorious history, the struggles and the sacrifices of the members of AON who stood against the British colonialists. We honor the members of EDON who fought against fascism and sacrificed their own live in the struggle for the defense of democracy, freedom and independence of this country.
Young people who paved the road for the youth to achieve great conquests. Young people, genuine “children of necessity and mature children of wrath", inspired and guided by the universal ideals of socialism.
Young people who joined hands together with radicals, scientists, people of the arts and intellectuals.
Together with honest people, pure people who fought tirelessly and paved the way towards a bright future. Towards a World of peace and socialism. Towards a qualitatively superior society where humans would no longer succumb.
Today we face situations that remind us the harsh years of the past. The youth of our country is under a brutal attack by the Government which promotes the cruel and inhumane policies of neoliberalism.
Pay cuts and reductions still burden people’s shoulders again and again in the name of protecting the Banks. They deceived people with a lot of fake commitments to obtain their electoral support but after the elections they failed to implement any of their commitments.
Everything must be sold out. Everything must be torn down.
Neither education nor health or public services should be left to the people. Everything should be given to the monopolies which are going to profit from our poverty.
In this framework, the media make every possible effort to convince people that their sacrifices will bring the “regeneration” of the economy, the recovery of the economy and the opening to international markets.
But in reality, the people are plunging further into the economic recession with reduced pay and low salaries.
Apart from all these, the scandals, the interweaving and the meritocracy arrangements (that favor certain circles) come to the fore on a daily basis. People know very well that these happen by specific persons with specific beliefs and ideology.
We call all the workers, students and pensioners to participate in the demonstration that will be held tomorrow at 5 pm, outside the parliament, against the austerity measures. We must be thousands as a single fist to fight against the exploitation.
Now is the time to have confidence in our own strength. We have the power to change things. The future is not written by ministerial promises but through social and political struggles. We dare to do what seems impossible because we are realists. An end must come to blind compliance and fatalism as well as to the so called "individual solutions".
The only alternative is resistance of the people and the strengthening of the Left. Rage and indignation meet with hope and a new perspective for the future. The youth questions and becomes the heart pulse of the left.
This is the place where we belong, where the heart of the youth beats.
Long Live EDON!
Long Live the children who insist on fighting for the reunification of our country and our people, who remain at the forefront of the struggle, who are committed to the ideals of freedom and independence, who struggle for the peaceful coexistence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who strengthen the anti-imperialist struggle of our people with their efforts to bring justice to our people.
Long Live the youth who fights against exploitation, injustice, poverty, unemployment, individualism and depreciation.
Long Live the children who fight against the darkness of conservatism, against racism and xenophobia, against nationalism and neo-Nazi fascist barbarism.
Long Live the youth who is struggles for life, education and the right to work!
Long Live EDON, the thousands our members who never stop struggling through festivals, camps, demonstrations, concerts, cultural events, sport events, political and social struggles!
We are looking ahead with pride. By the side of our people, for our people! By the side of our class, for our class.
Long live the 70th anniversary of AON - EDON!
Long live EDON!
December 15, 2014