to hold a conference of International Socialist. The works of the conference will focus on the evaluation of the present situation in Lebanon, the issue of a resolution to support Lebanon government’s efforts as well as the actions of March14th movement aimed at clarification of Rafik Hariri assassination and defusing tension in the country

Papandreou declared the works of the conference open and in his speech expressed the international community’s concern over the situation in Lebanon, stressing that necessary precondition for prosperity was to defuse tension. "Institutions and democracy is the only answer for the exodus from the problems and de-escalation of tension. Weapons and violence can not resolve problems. We need to make stronger efforts to bring stability in Lebanon and find a solution to the Palestinian issue, which are the two critical issues of our era".

Mr. Papandreou will meet Lebanese Prime-minister, Fouad Siniora who will host a dinner in honor of the Socialist International delegation. Papandreou will also have a private meeting with the President of the Progressive Socialist party, Walid Jumblatt.

Aim of the Socialist International delegation visit to Beirut is to express its solidarity to both March 14th Movement and Fouad Siniora government as well as to exchange views with personalities in Lebanon in the seek of a common ground of initiatives and activities which will take the country out of the present crisis.

About PASOK

The Panhellenic Socialist Movement, better known as PASOK (Greek: Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima), is a Greek social democratic political party. In 1981 PASOK formed the first socialist government in Greece since the start of the Cold War, and ruled Greece for most of the 1980s and '90s. PASOK lost office at the March 7, 2004, Greek elections. PASOK is a member of the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International. In the European Parliament it has 8 out of 24 Greek MEPs. On 31 January 2006, the party's president, George Papandreou, was elected President of the Socialist International, the worldwide organization of social democratic, socialist and labor parties

Source: Ert.gr