Unlike its neighbor Turkey, Greece is allowing its people to express opposition to the policies they deem to be detrimental to the stability of the region. According to the International Action Center, Turkey, on the other hand, saw fit to arrest more than 100 peaceful demonstrators who were expressing disagreement with the policies of their government and President Clinton's administration. Expressing opposition to certain policies does not necessarily mean that the people of Greece are anti-American. The protesters are against the continued occupation of Cyprus, and they also oppose the constant violation of Greece's territorial integrity in the Aegean by Turkey, a country that America supports without imposing any conditions related to international law and norms. Curtailing protests that may seem embarrassing to government officials is not a way to solving underlying problems.
Past experiences indicate contrary and negative results when repression is used.
The outcome of repression is the creation of turmoil and instability and the eventual disintegration of the democratic institutions of a country. A correction notice was forwarded to all periodicals that published this submission.