NO TO WAR, YES TO PEACE: Strong message from the Peace Committee of Rhodope in Komotini

With a clear message against war planning and the militarization of the region, the Peace Committee of Rhodope held a public gathering and speech event on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Komotini Labor Center.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Nikos Vargemidis, a member of the Peace Committee. The event was part of a nationwide mobilization coordinated by local branches of the Greek Committee for International Detente and Peace (EEDYE), in anticipation of the upcoming NATO military exercise scheduled to take place from June 25 to July 9 across Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

In his speech, Mr. Vargemidis expressed deep concern about Greece's increasing involvement—and that of the wider region—in geopolitical rivalries and war scenarios.

“This exercise is no coincidence,” he stressed. “It is directly related to war fronts in Ukraine, Syria, Iran, and Palestine. Our region is becoming increasingly entangled in imperialist strategies, posing serious risks to the people. This is a war rehearsal, and it serves no interest of the peoples.”

He particularly emphasized the dangers posed by the so-called “geostrategic upgrading” of the region, which he argued is portrayed as an opportunity, while in reality it turns the area into a military staging ground.

“The port of Alexandroupoli, the infrastructure, and road networks are all being utilized for NATO interests—while the Greek people suffer, gaining nothing from it,” he said.

Vargemidis also criticized the Greek government and the EU, highlighting the €800 billion earmarked for defense industry enhancement, “while people are suffering from cuts in health, education, and social welfare.”

Special reference was made to the situation in Gaza, where he condemned Israel for the “systematic killing of the Palestinian people” and called for solidarity.

“Palestine is facing famine due to the halt of humanitarian aid. We call for the condemnation of this criminal policy, supported by the EU, the U.S., and sadly, our own government,” he stated.

The gathering concluded with a call for mass participation in the struggle to:

• Demand the withdrawal of NATO forces from Greece.
• Ensure the Greek Armed Forces do not participate in operations beyond national borders.
• Prevent any changes to regional borders.
• Promote peace, friendship, and cooperation among peoples.
• Strengthen the fight for free education, healthcare, and social welfare.