Secretary visits France, Turkey, Greece, and Italy

US Department of State Bulletin, June, 1986

Americans and Greeks fought and died together in the two great wars of this century. Americans have not forgotten the fierce courage and determination with which the Greek people fought against fascist oppression in World War II. Nor have we forgotten your contributions to global security on the distant battlefields of Korea. In the postwar era, we have been joined together by political, economic, military, and cultural ties. We are united in a strong and noble alliance that secures our freedom and defends the values our citizens hold most dear. We share together the burdens and responsibilities of defending democracy.

But Greek-American friendship is not merely a question of security. Greek traditions of art, architecture, drama, literature, and history have influenced all Americans. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and other founders of our nation were steeped in the classical tradition and our political institutions derive from fundamental Greek concepts. Our public buildings, our universities, our churches, and our homes reflect Greek classical models. American school children study ancient Greece as a prologue to their own history. As a result, Americans grow up believing that Greece, its people, and its life as a nation are of unique importance.

The strength of our shared values and common traditions will assure the continuity of U.S.-Greek relations even in times of difficulty. May government has welcomed your Prime Minister's calls for "calmer seas.' We have also welcomed your personal willingness to embark on a step-by-step problem-solving effort to improve our relations and settle issues which have troubled us both in recent years.

Small- and medium-sized problems in our relationship have sometimes had a way of taking on lives of their own and creating frictions out of all proportion to their true significance. We need to learn to manage such irritants better and concentrate on the larger issues of agreement and common interests. Let us address our problems frankly and constructively during our talks together. I might just say that in our discussions this morning--in which 5 minutes of a private meeting that was scheduled turned into 1 hour and 45 minutes, much to the discomfort of our wonderful delegations--there was, nevertheless, a very positive and constructive and thoughtful interchange between us. And I found it to be most worthwhile. And I might say, you personally, as a Minister of Foreign Affairs [Karolos Papoulias], are a fresh breeze. And I look forward to our continuing, progressively improving work together.

Greek-American economic ties are another essential part of our complex relationship. There should be room for increased American investment in your country as a means of serving the economic interests of both our peoples. The overall state of U.S.-Greek relations has an immediate effect upon our joint economic progress. Predictability, stability, and forward movement in the relationship as a whole will inevitably bring about gain in areas such as investment, tourism, and the transfer of information and technology.