The Neighbors' Verdict

Moments before the delegates were scheduled to recess for a luncheon of poached bass at the Italian embassy, Foreign Minister Panayotis Pipinelis of Greece interrupted the proceedings. Waving his hand in the air, he told Italy's Aldo Moro, chairman of the Council of Europe meeting in Paris: "I have something further to say." With that, the small, sharp-featured Pipinelis, 70, announced that Greece would resign immediately from one of Europe's most prestigious political forums. He did not have to explain why. Everyone in the room knew that the first order of business after lunch would almost certainly be to suspend Greece from the Council for denying basic democratic rights to its citizens without justification.

Greece's departure from the body was another blot on the record of the military junta that seized power 32 months ago. It undoubtedly reflected the revulsion among Greece's neighbors against widespread reports that political prisoners have been tortured by police with official approval. Council members had recently received the report of a special panel of the Human Rights Commission documenting at least eleven cases of torture (TIME, Dec. 12).

Solid Majority. Before walking out of the meeting on orders from Athens, Pipinelis delivered a passionate defense of the junta. "Some police irregularities" had occurred, he admitted, but "in which country have they not?" The colonels, he said, "are a transitory regime and have said so publicly."

Council members, however, were in no mood to accept such a defense. The regime "has kept public opinion waiting for more than two years," said West Germany's Foreign Minister Walter Scheel. "This continued violation of our statutes cannot be denied." At least eleven of the Council's 18 members were ready to approve a resolution that would have suspended Greece temporarily but allowed it to maintain a liaison staff at Council headquarters in Strasbourg until constitutional rule is restored.

The junta has threatened some members, notably Britain, West Germany and Italy, with trade reductions. Pipinelis recently staged a well-publicized meeting with the Soviet ambassador to Athens, going out of his way to bill it as "more than just routine." Some officials also warned that Greece might review its "excessive contribution to Europe's defense." There is little real chance, however, that Greece will leave NATO--if only because the U.S., which lobbied against the Council's disciplinary measures, is expected to swallow its dislike of the regime shortly and resume full military aid to Athens, which has been partially suspended since the colonels took over in 1967.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.