Thesalonika against NATO aggression

Sailor of the Greek Navy Nikos Gardikis from the destroyer Themistocles which should have set off to the Adriatic, announced his written statement in which he says he should not be involved in this war because it is beyond his oath he had given to defend his own country.

The destroyer Themistocles was to replace the destroyer Kimon, taking part in annual Nato exercises in the region.

Another officer and one non-commissioned officer of the destroyer Themistocles also expressed their refusal to participate in the NATO attack. The statement also came from George Papaioannou, a sailor, who said in a statement on behalf of the eight sailors who joined him: "We would rather face imprisonment, but stay with our head up high and our principles intact, rather than serve under the Nato flag and participate even indirectly in the crime being committed against Yugoslavia." His letter was backed by 26 Greek artists and novelists.