Greece Considers Request by Saudi Arabia to Send Naval Forces Into the Persian Gulf
Greece is considering sending naval forces to the Persian Gulf as part of a multinational military buildup there after a request by Saudi Arabia, the government said Friday.
Government spokesman Byron Polydoras told reporters that the Saudi ambassador in Athens, Sheik Abdullah Malhooq, asked Foreign Minister Antonis Samaras for Greece’s participation in the gulf naval forces assembling following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
A similar request was made Thursday to Greek President Constantine Karamanlis by Sheik Ali al Khalifa al Sabah, oil minister of Kuwait’s government-in-exile, who visited Athens as part of a European tour.
Polydoras said Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis will discuss the requests with other party leaders Monday before announcing a decision.
Defense Ministry sources said the government would probably send a frigate with a 200-member crew to the Persian Gulf. “The frigate Limnos has been put on alert,” the sources said.
Greece has adopted U.N. sanctions against Iraq and provides facilities to U.S. and other NATO forces heading for the Persian Gulf region. Polydoras said the government has frozen all Iraqi assets in Greece.
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