Simitis: “You don’t move forward without a plan, without a goal and an implementation plan”

“You don’t move forward without a plan – without a goal and an implementation plan. You move with the broadest possible consents, but often against the current. It is the price that must be paid, so that the resulting benefit will be much greater.” This was the message of former prime minister and former president of PASOK Kostas Simitis at the event held on Monday in his honor at the “Cultural Center (Hellenic World)”.

The event was organized by the “NETWORK for Reform in Greece and Europe”, the “Institute Jacques Delors” and the magazine “Reform” with the support of the Delphi Economic Forum.

As part of the event, which was opened by Anna Diamantopoulou, a video on the life and work of Kostas Simitis was shown. The event closed with the greeting of Kostas Simitis.

The greeting of Kostas Simitis

“I thank the President of the Republic, Anna Diamantopoulou, the other speakers and all of you who came here tonight. I tried and am trying with PASOK to contribute to the development of society not only by supporting the free expression of opinions but also by contributing to their creative contribution. Hoping to shape a fairer society in this way, capable of facing the problems of the modern era. It wasn’t always easy, because there is resistance to change. It is my deep belief, however, that problems are solved with effort.

“The design and the situation. You don’t move forward without a plan – without a goal and an implementation plan. You move with the broadest possible consents, but often against the current. It is the price that must be paid, in order for the benefit to be obtained to be much greater. That is why I believe, despite the obstacles, we should not hesitate. To have the courage of our opinion, the courage to contribute without hesitation to a creative progress”.

“Thank you all. Your presence tonight was an encouragement to try our best.”

The event was attended by the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the president of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, ministers, MPs and other political officials, personalities from the economic and academic Greek scene as well as youth representatives. Former Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou, although absent as he is abroad, sent a greeting. It is noted that the president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, had been invited to the event, but his presence was not possible.

At the same time, greetings from the former US president were shown Bill Clinton, Jacques Delors, Jean-Claude Juncker, Romano Prodi.

Also present were, among others, the secretary of PASOK – KINAL Andreas Spyropoulos as well as MPs of the Movement as well as Gianna Angelopoulou – Daskalaki, the former president of SEV Theodoros Fessas, the former minister Tasos Giannitsis, the former prime minister Loukas Papademos, the former minister Gikas Hardouvelis, former minister Filippos Sahinidis. Also present were the mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, the former president of PASOK Evangelos Venizelos, the daughter of Costas Simitis, professor Yiannis Spras and the constitutionalist Nikos Alivizatos.