Jets of 3 Nations Fly Escort for Shultz to Athens

ATHENS — Fighter jets from three nations escorted Secretary of State George P. Shultz’s plane from Ankara to Athens today to ward off any possible attack spilling over from the U.S.-Libyan clashes in the Mediterranean.

State Department spokesman Bernard Kalb told reporters accompanying Shultz that Turkish Phantom jets escorted Shultz’ aircraft into Greek airspace and handed protection duties over to Greek jets. He said U.S. Air Force jets made the entire 90-minute flight.

“It’s all in the nature of cautionary steps against any attempt to take action against the secretary,” Kalb said.

Officials and reporters on the U.S. Air Force Boeing 707 passenger jet could see the blinking lights of escorting fighters from their windows.

Shultz told reporters in Athens that his discussions with Greek officials will include the “threat of growing international lawlessness and terrorism. The events of the last 36 hours have given special urgency to this question.”

Reasserts Navy Rights

Before leaving Ankara, Shultz reasserted the U.S. Navy’s right to operate in waters near Libya and said the U.S. maneuvers will continue until their scheduled completion date.

Asked at a news conference at the end of a four-day visit to Turkey to explain U.S. tensions regarding the government of Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi, Shultz said, “The purpose is not to put Kadafi in his box--but that’s where he belongs.”

“The purpose is to assert the U.S. right to conduct naval and air exercises in every part of the globe,” he said.

Shultz said that despite clashes Monday and today with the Libyan forces, the United States will continue the exercises according to an original plan. He did not reveal the scheduled completion date.

On Four-Nation Tour

Shultz is on a four-nation tour of Europe.

The secretary said that he cannot gauge the reaction of Europeans but that navigation rights being asserted by the United States are in the interest of all seafaring nations.

Asked whether the United States fears threats issued by Kadafi after the attacks, Shultz said, “Libya has threatened us on many occasions” and said the United States will maintain its guard against any Libyan retaliation.