UNITED STATES: TURKISH/GREEK ISLET DISAGREEMENT IS SOLVED BY UNITED STATES FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN RICHARD HOLBROOKE

Record ID: 337683

  • Title: UNITED STATES: TURKISH/GREEK ISLET DISAGREEMENT IS SOLVED BY UNITED STATES FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN RICHARD HOLBROOKE
  • Date: 31st January 1996
  • Summary: WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 31, 1996) (REUTERS TV (A); ACCESS ALL) 1. SV ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD HOLBROOKE AT PRESS CLUB LUNCH 0.12 2. SCU HOLBROOKE SAYING ANKARA AND ATHENS GAVE ASSURANCES TO THE UNITED STATES, WHICH ENABLED MINI-DRAMA TO BE RESOLVED (ENGLISH) 0.40 3. SV CUTAWAY DINERS 0.44 4. SCU HOLBROOKE SPEAKING (ENGLISH) 1.19 5. SV HOLBROOKE ADDRESSING DINERS 1.35 SEQUENCE 2 TRANSCRIPT: HOLBROOKE: "ANKARA'S ASSURANCES WERE TO US. WE CONVEY THEM TO ATHENS AND SAID "WE TAKE THESE SERIOUSLY". ATHEN'S ASSURANCES WERE TO US AND WE CONVEYED THOSE TO ANKARA AND SAID THE SAME THING. AND WITH THAT DEVICE, WITH THE UNITED STATES MORE OF AN HONEST BROKER, HOLDING THESE TWO AGREEMENTS THAT THEY WILL GO BACK TO THE STATUS QUO, THIS MINI-DRAMA WAS RESOLVED." SEQUENCE 4 TRANSCRIPT: HOLBROOKE: "GREECE AND TURKEY ARE IMPORTANT UNITED STATES ALLIES AND TURKEY IS FRONTLINE STATE OF NEW EUROPE, WITH BORDERS TO MIDDLE EAST AND FORMER EASTERN BLOC, AND ITS OWN PROBLEMS WITH GREECE AND THE KURDS, IT'S A COUNTRY OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE; WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAJOR EFFORTS ON CYPRUS THIS YEAR, WE CAN'T PROMISE SUCCESS." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 15th February 1996 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAAIEVH2E5SV9Q2SKRGG9VKV8DH
  • Story Text: The Turkish/Greek islet crisis was resolved with diplomacy by United States (U.S.) foreign affairs trouble-shooter Richard Holbrooke on Wednesday (January 31), by managing to pull back the two countries from the brink of war.

    The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies Turkey and Greece were on the verge of a military showdown over a rocky outcrop in the Aegean Sea.

    Assistant Secretary of State Richard C. Holbrooke addressed a National Press Club luncheon at which he explained how the U.S. had stepped in to avert a conflict.

    He reviewed the heated dispute between the two countries over a small goat-inhabited islet claimed by both nations.

    Holbrooke, due to return to private life next month, plans to lead a joint State Department-Pentagon mission to Greece, Turkey and Cyprus in mid-February.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register