In his cable to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, Ambasador Kiril Shterev reports information about expected US assistance to Greece in 1963. Shterev acquired the information during lunch with the Greek Charge d' Affaires, Counselor Kalougeras. Kalougeras also mentioned Turkey's possible entrance into the European Economic Community and inquired about US-Bulgarian relations.
June 6, 1963
Bulgarian Embassy, Athens (Minchev), Cable to Foreign Ministry
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INCOMING CABLE Nr. 6153
6 June 1963
To: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
From: Athens
Written on 6 June 1963 at 12.00 pm
The afternoon government newspaper Apogevmatini pub-dent that NATO command was informed that Soviet nuclear submarines with missiles had entered the Mediterranean in response to the presence of three US submarines with missiles Polaris in this region. According to this information, the armed forces of the Soviet Union and its allies were quickly procuring most modern weapons, especially Bulgaria, which has modernized its troops systematically with Soviet assault weapons. NATO received information that during the last two months the Bulgarian army had conducted a series of maneuvers close to the Greek and Turkish borders. The maneuvers included exercises aiming at achieving full combat readiness.
According to newspaper Katimerini, a NATO declaration states that in the upcoming months the fast adoption of NATO forward strategy in Greece will start, according to which Greek divisions will be deployed in a new pattern at a short distance along the borders. This strategy aims at the preparation for attacks from 50 divisions, used by the Soviet Union. The most dangerous were the divisions located in Romania and Bulgaria. According to NATO command, possible attacks against Greece could come from the north along the rivers Mesta, Struma and Arda. The defense of Greece and particularly of Thrace was estimated as vitally important, and NATO would not leave a single inch of Greek land [unprotected].
ATANASOV
Deciphered on 7 June 1963
Bulgarian Embassy in Athens staff member Atanasov reports on Greek media accounts of military preparations to the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Atanasov, Greek newspapers report preparations include Soviet movements in the Mediterranean in response to US submarines carrying Polaris missiles, Bulgarian maneuvers near the Greek and Turkish borders, and an anticipated NATO forward strategy in Greece. Atanasov adds that NATO is preparing the defense of possible attacks on Greece.
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