Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXI, Cyprus; Turkey; Greece

188. Intelligence Information Cable Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency¹

TDFIR DB–315/08516–79

Washington, May 10, 1979

2447259. Exclusive dissemination to addressee listed in final paragraph. Country: Greece. Subject: Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis’s Dissatisfaction With Standstill in Greek-American Relations (DOI: Early May 1979). Source: [3 lines not declassified].

1. Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis told [less than 1 line not declassified] in early May 1979 that he is becoming increasingly dispirited by the current standstill in Greek-American relations. He added that Greece’s entry into the Common Market puts Greece where Karamanlis believes the country should be,² and the hoped-for return of Greece to NATO’s military wing will help anchor Greece in the West, but he cannot feel secure about Greece’s international position until there is a return to the quality of relations Greece had with the United States just after Karamanlis’s 1974 return.³ The Prime Minister said that while at that time he might have disagreed with various aspects of American foreign policy, he at least understood America’s foreign policy objectives and had a valuable, ongoing dialogue with the American administration. Now, he said, he does not know who makes the decisions in Washington, what weight if any is given to Greek affairs, or even whom to ask about these matters.

2. The Prime Minister said he does not attribute the stagnation in Greek-American relations to ill will or to incompetence, but rather to a lack of direction in Washington; apparently no one has set any foreign policy objectives for relations with Greece. He is forced to wait until someone does initiate a policy, said Karamanlis, at which time he will find out how to engage in profitable interchange with Washington concerning that policy. (Field comment: This report should be read in conjunction with [1 line not declassified], which reported that Karamanlis has decided to begin pressuring the United States to help end Turkish opposition to Greece’s full NATO reentry.)

3. ACQ: [1 line not declassified].

4. Field dissem: [3 lines not declassified].

5. Washington dissem: To State: Exclusive for Director, INR.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 16, Greece: 1978–1980. Secret; Wnintel; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon.
2. See footnote 2, Document 174. Greece formally became a member of the European Economic Community, also known as the Common Market, on June 28 when the Greek Parliament ratified the Deed of Accession.
3. Karamanlis registered similar concerns to Ambassador McCloskey, as reported in telegram 2079 from Athens, March 8. McCloskey noted that the Prime Minister asked him to convey this message to Washington. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790111–0905)