Mikis Theodorakis: I Remain a Greek Soldier Defending our Rights

Mikis Theodorakis, the world renowned composer and lyricist, who turned 95 recently, said on Friday that he remains a soldier in defense of the nation’s rights in the face of Turkish aggressiveness.
In a statement, he accepts that in the distant past he was a champion of Greek-Turkish friendship. But, he notes the “conditions at that time have absolutely nothing to do with today.”
Today, he says, “the Turkish frigates are sailing in Greek waters in the Aegean…Erdogan behaves as if he is seeking a military incident.”
He adds that Turkey is guilty of the “criminal treatment of refugees who are transported by their hundreds to our islands under inhumane conditions by Turkish traffickers with the full coverage and assistance of the current Turkish state.”
Of course, he adds, “I am and will always be in favor of the peaceful coexistence of our two peoples, but always on the condition of reciprocity, mutual understanding and mutual respect for the territorial integrity and independence of each state.
“Today, the Greek people are facing a highly aggressive and threatening policy from Erdogan’s Turkey, and I, as a Greek, cannot but be a soldier defending our rights and integrity,” Theodorakis concludes.