WWI armistice anniversary commemorated

The signing of the armistice treat between the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918 that ended WWI was commemorated on Sunday with a laying of wreaths ceremony at the Allied military cemetery of Zeytinlik and the Heroes' Monument of the Third Army Corps in Thessaloniki.

The military cemetery Zeytinlik contains the graves of the Serbian, French, English, Italian and Russian soldiers who died in battles on the Thessaloniki front during World War 1.

Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Macedonia-Thrace ministry, the local government, the Army and the consular authorities of the countries who's dead are buried in the Allied Cemetery, in the various country sectors, while a minute of silence was observed afterwards and the national anthems of the countries and of Greece were played.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic who also visited the Allied cemeteries of Zeytenlik, in Thessaloniki, on Saturday morning,  referred in statements to the traditionally excellent relations between Greece and Serbia and the mutual mood for cooperation.

Nikolic said he is "absolutely satisfied" with the contacts he had with the Greek leadership on Friday, which as he said "understands the Serbian issues very well" and "fully" supports Serbia's course towards the EU.

He further said that Greece could request the mediation of Serbia in differences existing "with its northern neighbours and our southern neighbours".

Nikolic also said that "Greece is experiencing a crisis that it had never ever experienced" in its modern history, "a crisis that Serbia has been experiencing over the past twenty years".

The Serbian president has left for Ouranoupolis to visit Mount Athos, while on Sunday he will be visiting Corfu and the island of Vido to participate in events in memory of the thousands of Serbian soldiers killed during WWI.