EP.773: Iran Sanctions & New Democracy’s Vision for Greece

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to Notis Mitarachi, the Deputy Minister for Social Security in the New Democracy government in Greece. He discusses why Syriza lost the election, whether austerity is coming to an end in Greece, human rights issues in Greece such as conditions for refugees, how Greece can find its way out of the economic crisis and more! Next we speak to former Minister of State at the Home Office Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on this weeks top stories including a poll which has Labour finishing in first place in a hypothetical general election, Diane Abbot’s column in the Independent saying the government’s compensation on Windrush is not enough, mainstream media ignoring continued Yellow Vests protests and an Israeli government minister supporting gay conversion therapy and calling for Palestinians’ right to vote being taken away. Finally we speak to Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi on escalating US-Iran tensions, the UK seizing an Iranian tanker allegedly bound for Syria, US sanctions amounting to war crimes and more!

STATEMENT FROM THE EMBASSY OF CHINA:

July 1st is a day of celebration and festivity for the people of Hong Kong from all walks of life to commemorate the return of Hong Kong and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HONG KONG SAR). However, on this very day,some ultra-radicals stormed the Hong Kong Legislative Council complex in an extremely violent manner and wantonly damaged facilities inside. Such action has broken the boundaries to freedom of speech and peaceful demonstration, trampled on the rule of law in Hong Kong, undermined social order, compromised the fundamental interests of Hong Kong and challenged the bottom line of "one country, two systems". We strongly condemn such action. The Hong Kong SAR government will press criminal charges against the violent offenders in accordance with the law, and the Chinese Central Government firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR government in pursuing this serious case of offence and handling the incident in accordance with the law. We support the SAR government in restoring public order, protecting the personal and property safety of Hong Kong citizens and maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

China is determined to safeguard its sovereignty, national security and development interests. Hong Kong is China's special administrative region and its affairs are purely China's internal affairs that brook no interference from any country, organization or individual. We are determined to reject foreign interference. Any attempts to interfere in the affairs of Hong Kong are doomed to fail.