<SANITIZED> INFORMATION ON MERTEN AFFAIR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06766025
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2021
• Case Number: F-2015-02367
• Publication Date: January 30, 1961

Approved for Release: 2019/04/23 C06766025
DATE: 30 January lsa
1.
2.
INFONMATION ON MERTEN.AFFFIR �
attended. the "Mskedoniki Estia" dance on Saturday evening with Anestesios
Nestosiand set in the same table with Minister of Interior Dimitrios Mskris Pnd
his wife. During the course of the evening Nekris asked
whether he would
be willing to go to Cermeny.agsin, either in the immediate fiture or in about a
month r-id a half, if such trip were considered essential so he could follow through
on events there(mming the I4erten affair) particularly in connection with the
StafenopouJos libel suit against the German newspaper. If such trip was effected,
MO:I-is continued, he
should take precautions so that his mission will not
be interpreted as es a Merten affair press mission but a; general one.
en-
-swered that he doubted he cOuld, get awey at the present time in view of the politicl
developments that the whole affair can be discussed. Makris hes been trying to lo-
cate
since yesterday.
met this morning Pt the office of Underminister of Frees Tryfon Triendefi-
lPkos, Ceorgios Zotiadis hes submitted a biogrephicel report on Mn s few
years ago. Zotiedis studied in the U.S.A., is highly intelligent, worked in the
Underministry of Fress end 171) about three years ago end hem' been in Oicosie, Cy=
prus during the lest years working for the Creek Underministry of Fress and KYI.
While there he gotcmarried. He wes urgently called to Athens for 3 days by the .
Creek Government to discus's the possibility of his beirg to sent to Pont for special
work) who stated the following:
a. The right wing followers of Grivas in Gyprdis who are against the Zurich agree-
ments are incrensing in strength.
b. It appears thet the Merten affair is assisted by Grivas end his followers
with the mein codtect being Antonis Georgiedis, former deputy chief of EOKA
end for s time Minister in the transitional Mekerios Government in Cyprus,
who is living in Germany as s student and spends his time between Frankfurt
and Hamburg. He is in close contact with "Speigel" and the "Hamburg choe"
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30 Jaiiunry 1961 Feg.r. 2
2b.(continued)
end elso with the ?oerten circle. He is also considered to be the main con-
tact between the Merten circle and the politionl opposition in Greece.
c. The Grivas hiEh comfrand in Cyprus is highly interested in the r4erten affair
and is fenning the flames to the best cf its ability. hecently the present
German Luftweffe chief visited 3yprus posing as e merchant end had diccu-
ssions on the Merten affair with �rives' men.
Definite elements in the circle of .'.erten obtained photostats of certain
docun'ents. in Israel which indiceted Mertenis activities during the occupa-
tion in Salonika so that Merten can be kept in line end not be in El position
to change course later if he so decided. Merten can be definitely black-
mailed with the photostRts in question.
3.
4.
ststes that during his talks with Nynriach(sic) end Mensel(sic) editor-in-
chief nnd reporter of the "Hsmburg Fchod" respectively, it was stated that a Min!
student in Germany was one of their informants in connection with the Merten
affair, wonders whether the student they mentioned could be Georgindis.
will be seeing Zotiedis again and he will be talking to Minister Makris.
' 64'44
4z,
,S64444-1. _94,14,44,11
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Approved for Release: 2019/04/23 C06766025