December 16, 1959
AVEROF ADDRESSES WEST: Paris, 16 – In a speech yesterday at the NATO ministerial meeting, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Averof explained Greece’s perception of the prerequisites for world detente. He categorically emphasized that no obligation should be undertaken without the prior approval of all NATO members and that Greece would never agree to a decision that did not meet with its absolute approval. Averof also spoke of the need for economic solidarity in the West and that the effort to expand European markets should include the six members of the European Economic Community (EEC), the seven members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the two outsiders, Greece and Turkey. Greece wanted to join one of these two groups and had reasons to hope for understanding. Averof suggested that if this were not the case, then the outsiders would act in the appropriate manner to safeguard their economic interests. Asked if the Western powers were likely to take decisions contrary to the interests of Greece and Turkey, Averof said there were no such indications.
