Office of the Historian

200. Summary of Conclusions of a Mini-Policy Review Committee Meeting1

Washington, March 20, 1980, 3:10–3:40 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Greek Reintegration into NATO

PARTICIPANTS

  • State

    • Matthew Nimetz (Chairman), Under Secretary for Security Assistance, Science and Technology
    • George Vest, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
    • Edward Dillery, Director, Office of Southern European Affairs

  • OSD

    • David McGiffert, Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs
    • James Siena, Deputy Assistant Secretary for ISA–NATO Affairs

  • JCS

    • Lt. General John Pustay, Assistant to the Chairman

  • DCI

    • Joe Zaring, NIO for Western Europe

  • White House

    • David Aaron

  • NSC

    • Robert D. Blackwill
    • Paul Henze

It was agreed at the meeting that the current Rogers effort would fail, that neither side was looking for a sensible solution and that we should try to keep the negotiating process going. The Greeks had apparently decided not to move on the problem before their Presidential election; however, there was no indication of any immediate risk that Greece would withdraw its reintegration application and no sign the Greeks were looking for a showdown. All participants were against a [Page 612] direct U.S. mediating initiative at this time because the chances of success were so slight and agreement was reached that we should instead use NATO political channels to keep the issue alive. We will propose that a small number of countries (U.S., UK, FRG) work with Greece and Turkey under the umbrella of the already-established NATO open-ended group (OEG) on reintegration. We will so inform General Rogers and Secretary General Luns and then consult with the Allies who might participate. We will also inform the Greeks that we are considering what can be done and urge that they leave the door open for further negotiations. (S)

State will draft a long-term strategy paper with a step-by-step scenario on how we should prepare the ground both domestically and with the Greeks and Turks for the time when we launch a major effort to solve the problem.2 (S)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 16, Greece: 1978–1980. Secret. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room.↩
  2. See Document 201.↩