September 19, 1953
GREEK-SOVIET RELATIONS: During their first meeting yesterday, Foreign Minister Stefanos Stephanopoulos and the new ambassador of the Soviet Union, Mr Sergeyev, ascertained prospects for the development of diplomatic and commercial relations between the two countries (…). The Russian ambassador indicated a willingness for sincere cooperation and requested frequent meetings with the foreign minister. Mr Stephanopoulos (…) thanked Mr Sergeyev for the Russian government’s financial support for the victims of the earthquake in the Ionian. He also expressed the hope that the new Russian ambassador would display an interest in boosting Greek-Russian trade relations. ILIAS TSIRIMOKOS: Mr Ilias Tsirimokos, speaking yesterday about the founding of the new Democratic Party, following an agreement between Mr Alexandros Svolos and Georgios Kartalis, said (…) that he will remain independent (…) and considers that the role of the Socialists is now (following the death of General Nikolaos Plastiras) to deal with the problem of creating the broadest possible democratic unity. This merger limits the Socialists to a narrow area and isolates them from the broader masses. TOURISM: Paris, 18 – Twelve European countries have announced that the number of their American visitors during the first six months of 1953 increased by 10 to 15 percent (…), with the greatest increase in Greece.
