International institute for Middle East and Balkan studies - IFIMES
Abstract
The Yugoslav aid to the Greek communists and insurgent DemocraticArmy brought the relations between Belgrade and Athens to the verge ofbreaking. Operation carried out in the frontier zone provoked numerous andfrequently dangerous incidents in which participated soldiers of the Greek National Army, of Democratic Army units and the frontier units of the YugoslavArmy. In these clashes, were being killed or taken prisoners several tens ofsoldiers. The air space in the frontier zone was violated, and in few cases thecivilian and military objects on the Yugoslav territory were attacked. Therewere cases of desertion of the Yugoslav pilots, and cases of forced landing ofthe Greek military aircraft, also a case of hijacking of a Greek civilianaircraft. This dangerous state of affairs was discussed at the highest international level (OUN) and special committees were founded for inspection of violations of the frontier between the two countries. The discontinuation of the civil war in Greece, in the summer of 1949, created possibility for a gradual pacification of the situation. The Yugoslav breaking off with the other communist countries and her approaching the West led to the improvement of relations between Belgrade and Athens and stabilizing the situation on the frontier
