ATTITUDE TO GREECE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26531, 5 August 1947, Page 5

ATTITUDE TO GREECE

YUGOSLAVIA AND BULGARIA “INTEREST IN LIBERATION” Rec. 8.40 p.m. BELGRADE, Aug. 4. The Yugoslav-Bulgarian Pact provides for the establishment of close Yugoslav-Bulgarian contact on the Greeks’ “ frequent frontier provocations.” Mr Dimitrov, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, told the press that neither country was interfering in the internal affairs of Greece, but they were interested to see the Greek people liberate their country and ,reach the development which the Yugoslavs and Bulgars had achieved. The pact would be implemented in accordance with the United Nations Charter. Mr Dimitrov added that the pact might

be the first step towards mutual federation in the Balkans, though it was premature to study the question concretely. The significance of the pact was even greater because it came when reactionaries were trying to divide the world into enemy forces. Marshal Tito described the agreement as “a deathblow to attempts of international imperialists, and our own reactionaries, to turn the Balkans again into Europe’s powder keg.” He denied the Balkans’ intentions to create a bloc. A previous message reported that the Yugoslav and Bulgarian Governments, in a joint communique, have announced an agreement which includes a mutual assistance pact, also full economic, political, and cultural co-operation. Yugoslavia, in the agreement, has given up £6,125,000 worth of reparations due to her from Bulgaria under the peace treaty.