DAMASCUS AIRPORT; MARSHAL GRECHKO GREETED BY SYRIANS; GRECHKO AND SYRIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, HAFEZ AL-ASSAD AT CONFERENCE; GRECHKO WITH SYRIAN PRIME MINISTER.




Initials JP/VS/PW/EEH



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Background: THE SOVIET DEFENCE MINISTER, MARSHAL ANDREI GRECHKO, IS ON A FIVE DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO SYRIA. MARSHAL GRECHKO WAS GREETED AT DAMASCUS AIRPORT LAST MONDAY BY THE SYRIAN MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, GENERAL HAFEZ AL-ASSAD, CABINET MINISTERS AND THE ARMED FORCES CHIEF-OF-STAFF.

MARSHAL GRECHKO'S VISIT IS IN RETURN FOR ONE PAID TO THE SOVIET UNION BY THE SYRIAN DEFENCE MINISTER LAST SUMMER. ON THE DAY OF HIS ARRIVAL, THE SOVIET DEFENCE MINISTER HAD A CONFERENCE WITH HIS SYRIAN COUNTERPART. THAT EVENING, BOTH DEFENCE MINISTERS WERE RECEIVED BY THE SYRIAN PRIME MINISTER, DR. YOUSEF ZEAYEN. MARSHAL GRECHKO WILL VISIT A NUMBER OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS DURING HIS STAY IN SYRIA. HE IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY THE SOVIET ARMY CHIEF-OF-STAFF, MAJOR-GENERAL MUSIAFA TLAS.

MARSHAL GRECHKO LAST WEEK VISITED IRAQ, WHERE HE TOURED MILITARY AND AIR BASES AND DISCUSSED MILITARY AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION WITH THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT.