The United States of America and the Kingdom of Greece being parties of the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed at Washington on April 4, 1949 and having regard to their respective responsibilities under the aforesaid Treaty to provide for the security and defense of the North Atlantic Treaty Area, and under Article 3 thereof to develop their collective capacity to resist armed attack, have entered into the following Agreement:

Article I

1. The Government of Greece hereby authorizes the Government of the United States of America, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and to technical arrangements between appropriate authorities of the two Governments, to utilize such roads, railways and areas, and to construct, develop, use and operate such military and supporting facilities in Greece as appropriate authorities of the two Governments shall from time to time agree to be necessary for the implementation of, or in furtherance of, approved NATO plans. The construction, development, use and operation of such facilities shall be consistent with recommendations, standards and directives from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) where applicable.

2. For the purpose of this Agreement and in accordance with technical arrangements to be agreed between the appropriate authorities of the two Governments, the Government of the United States of America may bring in, station and house in Greece United States personnel. United States Armed Forces and equipment under their control may enter, exit, circulate within and overfly Greece and its territorial waters subject to any technical arrangements that may be agreed upon by the appropriate authorities of the two Governments. These operations shall be free from all charges, duties and taxes.

3. The priorities, rates of consumption and charges established for the United States Armed Forces for such services as electric power, sewerage, water supply, communication systems, and freight and personnel transportation by rail, will be no less favorable than those established for the Greek Armed Forces.

Article II

1. Equipment, materials and supplies imported by or on behalf of the Government of the United States of America in connection with the construction, development, operation or maintenance of agreed installations and facilities and the official support of the United States Forces, civilian components, and their dependents shall be exempt from all duties, taxes, custom restrictions and inspections.

2. All removable facilities erected or constructed by or on behalf of the Government of the United States oil America at its sole expense and all equipment, materials and supplies brought into Greece or purchased in Greece by or on behalf of the Government of the United States of America in connection with the construction, development, operation and maintenance of agreed installations and facilities will remain the property of the Government of the United States of America and may be removed from Greece. No such removal or disposition will be undertaken which will prejudice the mission of the NATO.

3. The United States of America will be compensated by the Greek Government for the residual value, if any, of the facilities acquired developed and constructed at United States expense under the present Agreement and not removed or otherwise disposed of in accordance With paragraph 2 of this Article, including those facilities developed or constructed jointly by United States and Greek funds, when such facilities or any part thereof are no longer needed by the military forces of the United States. The amount and manner of compensation shall be in accordance with agreements to be made between the appropriate authorities of the contracting parties. Negotiations as to the method for treating the residual value of these facilities will be without prejudice to agreements within the NATO.

Article III

1. For the implementation of this Agreement the provisions of Article I, paragraphs 3a and 3b of Legislative Decree 694 of May 7, 1948,: and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the United States and the Government of Greece dated February 4, 1953,(2) shall be applied in accordance with terms mutually agreed

2. The United States Armed Forces in Greece under this Agreement may also establish and continue to use or operate United States military post offices.

Article IV

The present Agreement will come into force from the date on which it is signed, and will remain in effect during the period of the validity of the North Atlantic Treaty.

DONE at Athens in duplicate, in the English and Greek languages, the two texts having equal authenticity, this 12th day of October, 1953.

(1) TIAS 2868; 4 UST 2189. Entered into force on date of signature. A similar agreement with Turkey (TIAS 3243; 6 UST 1031) was signed on Apr. 25, 1955, and entered into force on date of signature. Back

(2) TIAS 2775; 4 UST 166. Back