Mavros outspoken on 1967 Greek coup

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33628, 2 September 1974, Page 13

Mavros outspoken on 1967 Greek coup

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, September 1. The Greek Foreign Minister (Mr George Mavros) believes that the United States Central Intelligence Agency was involved in the military coup d’etat in Greece in 1967.

In an interview with the magazine, “Time,” Mr Mavros says: “The coup was engineered by the Greek counterpart of the American C.I.A. There is no doubt about the United States’ awareness of what was happening, and I think it would be better for the Americans to confess that it was an error for them to be involved.”

Referring to the Cyprus coup d’etat in July, which overthrew Archbishop Makarios, Mr Mavros said: “People naturally suspect those who have backed the tyranny of the last seven years. We believe that the Americans could have stopped the Turks from landing on Cyprus, but it is now obvious that they were rather unwilling to do so.” Mr Mavros said that the Greek decision to withdraw from N.A.T.O. was not a bluff. "The alliance proved unable to prevent a military conclict between two member-countries, so of what use is it?” he asked. “Greece’s withdrawal from N.A.T.O. will cause the entire Western strategy — the entire defence structure — to crumble, but we Greeks cannot alone bear

the responsibility for the security of the Western world at a time when we are so bluntly attacked by a member of the Atlantic Alliance.”

Predicting that at least some members of the former military governments would eventually he brought to trial, Mr Mavros said: “This is an important question. It is on the minds of the Greek people, who insist that there must be an accounting. The question is one of timing — the issue could be dealt with after Greece has had elections to restore the country to full democracy.”