The struggle against NATO port at Nea Peramos of Kavala

In January 2003 the newspapers of Kavala announced that developmental port facilities of 15 billion euros were to be constructed at the port of Nea Peramos of the city of Kavala. The auction was set for February 19th.
Rumors, which had it that since the summer of 2000 there was a preparation for constructing military port facilities at Nea Peramos gulf, were confirmed. The project was discussed at first in a confidential meeting between local service officials with the presence of military officials. All the relevant documents and drawings were also kept confidential. The project was assigned to a special port works engineer and was prepared by a special consultant of the Ministry of Environment and Public Works, who was licensed for confidential military works. The Mayor of Elefthera and the Prefect of Kavala were aware of the project. It included a military port in order to cover not only the needs of national forces but it also was of “great significance for the alliance”.
An older project for the port’s expansion included works that mainly were in favor of trade and fishery and also included works requested by the Navy since 1998. This preparation was almost completed and fitted in this calm and beautiful gulf. A significant part of the breakwater which embays it is an archeological region of great natural beauty (Vrassida peninsula). The works now announced were different and aimed to bigger interventions with great consequences on the environment.
The military significance of the gulf is well known since ancient years (Peloponnesian War, sea battle of Vrassida) and in recent history tsarist Russia attempted (with the establishment of Saint Andreas’ Glebe at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th) the appropriation of the gulf from the Ottomans, though later the gulf was used as a mooring by the Greek fleet.
The gulf’s geomorphology and geographical position (control of Hellespont, direct access to the inland and the Balkans) during a disturbed period and area, created many concerns about the use of the gulf by NATO. At this region special armoured storage of ammunition were built.
At the same period, local organizations and habitants were asking to be informed, compared the preparatory work and it was obvious that the new project involved the construction of a dockyard and additionally the enclosure and protection of the whole area.
After the publication of the plan and the questions made by parliament members, under-Secretary of Defense Apostolidis replied that the project "is indeed being constructed within the framework of a common NATO infrastructure program. We are a member country of NATO and this is clear". Secretary of Defense Papantoniou stated that "it will be an alternative port to Volos and Thessalonica and the works are 100% funded by NATO".
The Secretaries’ statements acted as a catalyst for the habitats of the area and they immediately formed a Coordinating Committee Against the Port of NATO at Nea Peramos of the city of Kavala. The primary aims of the Committee were to inform the habitats and block the auction for the assignment of the project on February 19th. The decision was taken at a mass assembly of the habitats with the presence of the Mayor and town councilors. Additionally, the Committee started collecting signatures against the construction of NATO’s port, invited the organizations of the district to take a stand and decided to organize protest manifestations at Nea Peramos and at the port area. The Committee participated in the antiwar protests that took place at Kavala and in the mobilizations of the Committee Against the Fuel Tanks of Vassova.
The first positive result was the resolution of the town council against NATO’s port and the first success was the blockade of the auction. Resolutions from all the local organizations followed (rural associations and unions, professionals, pupils, professors, teachers, parent associations, cultural and athletic associations), as well as a negative decision from the district council, from the technical and agricultural chamber, from municipalities of the district and from the municipality of Thassos island. In parallel, the Committee continued informing the habitats, organizing protests and moved on to the symbolic blockade of the port and collaborated with other Committees against fuel tanks in Vassova and against the installation of a radar at Ipsario of Thassos island.
The habitats believed that they could resist and block the plans of the government and NATO. They wouldn’t give away their region no matter what the price would be.
Gradually, the climax of protests and the movement against the war in Iraq, contributed in forming a common perspective against the installation of the port, and obliged parliament members and politicians to reverse their statements: "We don’t insist about the port, if we don’t want NATO’s gift we will not take it". The municipality tried to start a conversation concerning the cost and the advantages but the peoples' and the Committee’s strong objections didn’t let them change their minds.
In May 2003, while the Committee and the Mayor were proposing a referendum, the government announced that the project is being cancelled, NATO stops the funds and the plans were pulled out.
Some conclusions:
Governments and NATO plan and try to carry out projects in secret.
People’s mobilization has a decisive role to the overthrow of these plans.
The mobilization through the Committee gives to every citizen the opportunity to participate and this is an ideal form of organisation for these kinds of issues
The systematic work of the Committee to inform and mobilize people and organisations was determinative
The collaboration of this Committee with other Committees helped in colligating the problems and the struggle for their overthrow.
It is important to achieve the maximum possible coalition of forces.
Local communities have a decisive role at issues that directly concern them.
I have to mention that during the protests of the antiwar movement of Kavala against the war in Iraq, there were also slogans against NATO’s port.
A few remarks on the antiwar movement:
During the war in Iraq by the US the military base of Souda was being used by the “allies”. When we say that military bases should be shut down we also have to say that no new ones should be installed.
The connection between the antiwar movement and the movement against NATO’s port helped the Committee's fight.
We wanted bigger support and publication from the main cities (Athens, Thessalonica). NATO’s port wasn’t (isn’t) a matter concerning only the city of Kavala.
The support of the Committee by every part of the left and antiauthoritarians shows that even with limited powers we can carry out effective struggles.
A mass demanding antiwar movement in Greece is obliged to have specific aims:
No participation of the Greek army in the war.
No use of Greek ground or military bases for offensive action.
Clarification of relations with NATO and EU on war operations.
Shut down all military bases.