Greek Leftists Laud 'Botched' Anti-Communist Conference

Greece’s ruling leftist Syriza party on Wednesday praised low EU support for an Estonian conference on Communist crimes as a positive sign for Europe.

ATHENS (Sputnik) — The conference on the "Legacy of the Crimes of Communist Regimes in 21st Century Europe" was hosted by the Estonian capital on Wednesday. Its final declaration was signed by eight EU countries. The number of nations attending was not disclosed.

"The failure of the conference in Estonia is a positive [sign] for Europe. Its supporters will eventually isolate themselves," Syriza’s spokeswoman Rania Svingu tweeted.

Η αποτυχία του συνεδρίου στην Εσθονία είναι θετική για την Ευρώπη. Αυτοί που τελικά απομονώθηκαν είναι οι εγχώριοι υποστηρικτές του

— Ράνια Σβίγκου (@rania_sv) 23 августа 2017 г.

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Greece’s Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis refused to take part in the gathering, saying its cold-war era atmosphere contradicted EU values. His abstention led to warnings from some Greek politicians that the country could become isolated.

Maria Yannakaki, the transparency and human rights chief at the Greek Ministry of Justice, said the declaration was signed only by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Czech, Slovakia & Croatia only EU countries in "Victims of Communism" conference…

— Στενή Αυτοάμυνα (@Obscureobjet) August 23, 2017

August 23 marks the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Communist and Nazi Regimes, but the Tallinn conference singled out the legacy of Communism for debates.