"Bulgarian Bases for American Troops
April 22, 2006: The US always tries to balance its relations with Greece and Turkey. Though members of NATO, old antagonisms die hard. In the late 1990s Greece and Turkey almost went to war over islets in the Aegean Sea. The US acted as a political 'buffer' between the two nations. Since then relations between Greece and Turkey have improved. Greece responded with aid and recovery assistance when an earthquake struck Turkey in August 1999. In October 1999 an earthquake hit Athens and Turkey returned the favor. This 'earthquake diplomacy' began a slow process of rapprochement. Still, Turkey says Greece is blocking Turkey's entry into the European Union. Cyprus --still divided into Greek and Turk areas-- is another problem. Greek left-wing parties tend to oppose an efforts by the United States to patch up relations between the two countries."
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