Greek solidarity friends led by Velissarios Kossivakis announced the creation of a Greek initiative Honor Committee on the proposal to award the Nobel Peace Prize 2021 to the Cuban medical brigade Henry Reeve. The Committee has 350 members, all personalities in Greek socio-cultural and political life. (university, artists from different spheres of the cultural sphere, deputies, politicians, intellectuals, trade unionists).
In a statement sent to Prensa Latina, Kossivakis stated that 'it is the least we can do to recognize the most supportive and humane work of a geographically small country, but immense in its martyred attitude of making out its luck with the poor of the earth'. He noted that, as of August 18, 2020, more than 65,000 signatures were collected in favor of support and noted that this number continued to grow, while convening those wishing to join in several easily accessible digital sites.
As an example of the relevance of the members of that Honor Committee, he highlighted the legendary figure for the Greeks of several generations of Kostas Sarantidis, who supported the initiative at the age of 96 and maintained its vitality and political creeds, he said. He added that he 'enthusiastically joined our cause and, in this way, conveys his most affectionate greeting to the Cuban people and their Revolution, of which he was always a great admirer'. This creed prompted him to embrace the Committee and its noble purpose, in favor of the exemplary work of Cuban doctors, legitimate children of their homeland and revolution, exalted Kossivakis.
He adds that he is known by the nickname Viet Kostas, because at the age of 18 he was sent to Saigon as a member of the French Foreign Legion, whose ranks he defected to to join the Vietminh Liberation Front in which he fought for 12 years and then integrated the Southern National Liberation Movement.
He lived in Vietnam for 20 years, was honored to be honored to be citizenship of that country and is the founder of the Greek-Vietnamese Association in Athens.
'I never regretted anything. I thought, as a Greek, I did the right thing. What I couldn't do for my country, I did for someone I felt like mine. That people know how to die, they know how to fight, but also forgive,' Kostas said of the Vietnamese nation.
The letter signed by Kossivakis concludes with the commitment to always be supportive, live to Cuba and the motto “United we will win”.
Embacuba Grecia tomado de PL
