U.S. Role in the Aegean Area

While visiting the Los Angeles area to attend the International Studies Assn. Conference at Anaheim we read with considerable concern Richard Haass’ article (Editorial Pages, March 24), “A Rocky Course in the Aegean for Shultz.” We believe that this article deserves serious critical comment. For behind a thin veneer of evenhandedness the author hides some serious distortions of the troubled realities in the area.

1--Haass’ conclusion is that the United States should “steer clear” of a mediating role and leave Greeks and Turks to find a settlement through direct dialogue. But given the greater size and military strength of Turkey, U.S. “non-involvement” would result in a Turkish-dictated peace in the region. Greece would have no alternative but to seek help elsewhere. Turkey concurrently would grow even stronger and would continue pursuing an unmanageable revisionist role in the Eastern Mediterranean.

2--Haass suggests that U.S.-Greek relations have been “difficult” ever since Andreas Papandreou came to power in 1981. The reality is that Greek governments (conservative and socialist alike) have been manifesting their disappointment in the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 1974. The reasons are well known. The U.S. government embraced the Greek colonels in the 1967-1974 period while the colonels were bluntly violating the rights and freedoms of the Greek people. Further, the United States and NATO took no substantive steps to contain the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of the independent state of Cyprus. It should be clear that U.S.-Greek relations since 1974 have been the product of deep structural causes rather than the rhetoric and idiosyncrasies of specific political leaders in both countries.

3--Haass rightly points up the strategic importance of Turkey. But he remains totally silent about the strategic importance of Greece.

For years it has become obvious to serious strategic analysts that the Greek and Turkish strategic space is highly interdependent and that the loss of one or the other ally would result in net collective damage for Western defense interests.

With a small dose of prudence and subjective equidistance toward Greece and Turkey, Haass can correct his condition of “strategic astigmatism.”

THEODORE COULOUMBIS

DIMITRI KONSTAS

Anaheim

Couloumbis and Konstas are faculty members at universities in Greece.