Less strain showing in U.S.-Greek relations

Press, 24 January 1986, Page 16

Less strain showing in U.S.-Greek relations

From

London

“The Economist

Better manners, and perhaps a keener sense of self-interest, have reasserted themselves in the long argument between the United States and Greece’s Socialist government under Mr Andreas Papandreou. The Greek Government, which may be needing American help to climb out of its present economic hole, has opted for a new discretion, choking back the contentious remarks of yesteryear; the Americans have been gratified, for instance by the relative restraint of Greek comment on the American-Libyan confrontation.

ing the sale of the F-16s was the fear that the Greeks might allow the secrets of their technology to reach Soviet eyes and drawingboards. A routine exchange of letters about the inviolability of military technology has now cleared the way. Congress has yet to approve the sale but here there will be no difficulty: although congressmen were far more temperate than usual last year in their support for Greece at the expense of Turkey, they still insisted on maintaining the balancing mili-tary-sales ratio under which Greece receives $7-worth of equipment for every $lO-worth sold to Turkey. The defection last year to the United States of Mr Sergei Bokhan, an official at the Soviet embassy in Athens and, it turned out, a deputy director of Soviet military intelligence, alerted the

In return, President Reagan’s administration has decided that the Greek air force should have the 40 F-16 fighters that it wants. The Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, is expected to visit Athens at the end of March, The declared reason for delay-

Americans to the military information leaking northwards from Greece. The Greek Government, which arrested three people on espionage charges, has now apparently satisfied the United States that it has plugged the holes.

What will Mr Shultz discuss if he does go to Athens in March? The overriding question is the future of America’s four military bases in Greece.

The present rather ambivalent agreement expires in 1988. The Americans, who do not want to leave the next decision to the twelfth hour, will be bargaining for a Greek commitment about the future of the bases, possibly involving some changes on the American side. They particularly want to hold on to the naval base at Suda Bay in Crete. Copyright, “The Economist”.