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NATO
Thessaloniki Municipality Shows No Support
for Land Plans
23 April 1999
By Tasos Kokkinides
Thessaloniki's Municipal Council on Friday voted
unanimously against Greece providing further facilities or
logistical support for NATO forces planning a ground offensive
in Kosovo. According to Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos
recently, Parliament must give its permission for foreign
troops to use Greek territory. He said, however, that Article
27 overrode this provision by permitting Greece to take all
measures it needed to to fulfill its obligations under international
treaties and agreements. Thessaloniki Mayor Vassilis Papgeorgopoulos
told reporters on Friday that the bombing of Yugoslavia contravened
the NATO charter and, as such, Greek support was not covered
by the article. Thessaloniki's port and airport is considered
to be a key transit point for NATO troops and equipment if
a ground attack is decided. To date, NATO has been using Thessaloniki
as an entry point for troops and equipment involved in a peacekeeping
force based in Skopje and for refugee relief.
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