OPINION

May 29, 1959

KHRUSHCHEV AGAINST GREECE: Paris, 29 – Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev continued his tour of Albania today in Korce after visiting Tirana and Scutari. In a speech, he once again attacked Greece over the possibility of it allowing the installation of missile bases on its territory. Moreover, he said that the Soviet government hoped that Greece would become a neutral zone. For the first time, he suggested that »if possible, it should leave NATO.» Khrushchev added that Greece had agreed to the bases «obviously for class reasons» but should not forget that the Soviet Union was particularly sensitive to class issues. KARAMANLIS’S REPLY: Greek Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis has made the following reply to the above: «…On our part, and mindful of the means the Soviet Union has at its disposal, and without provocation, assuring them of our good intentions, we must declare that outbursts such as those made in Tirana and Korce, obviously aimed at frightening the Greek people, will not upset us. No matter what the circumstances, the legitimate political leadership in Greece will do what is necessary to safeguard the interests of our small but independent and sovereign state.»

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