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In fact, Yanayev never considered opening a canal between Bulgaria and Greece across the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, first of all, the initial capital investment was not affordable by the current Soviet economy. It will also involve a series of complex political, economic, geographical and other environmental issues between the two countries, in other words, no one wants to be the first bird.

Of course, according to the previous agreement between the Soviet Prime Minister and Zhelev, not long after Pavlov left, the Bulgarian government issued a statement on the plan to discuss the construction of a cross-border Grand Canal with the Soviet government, and also showed a sworn appearance, which seemed to others as if Bulgaria and the Soviet Union had reached a unanimous statement and was about to be put on the agenda of the parliament.

When the news of the construction of the Grand Canal reached the ears of the Turkish president, he was as dead as a dead heart, and he had finally seen the terrible methods of the Soviet Union to torture Turkey in different ways. I also understand why he was cheated before, but now Demirel still has a trace of fantasy in his heart, that is, he hopes that Greece, which has not had good relations with the Soviet Union, can reject this tempting plan.

But all Pavlov had to do during his visit to Greece was to put the last nail in Turkey's coffin and make Demirel completely dead. In fact, reaching a verbal agreement with the Greek government is not as difficult as it seems. On the one hand, no one can refuse the income from the opening of the Grand Canal, and on the other hand, the current Greek president, Konstantin Karamanlis, has been pursuing a hostile policy towards Turkey, which is caused by the tensions between the Greeks and Turks in Cyprus. Thirdly, there is this kind of thing that has not been skimmed yet, and the beautiful things that are said verbally are often not followed.

But it is enough to scare Turkey.

"The opening of the canal is indeed conducive to the long-term development of our three countries. But there's a problem. Who is responsible for the initial capital investment? How much capital does each of the three countries occupy? Has your government thought through these issues? President Karamanlis asked. He likes to talk to people about a certain detail of a certain thing. If there is a problem with the details, then Karamanlis will never risk his own life with the interests of the country.

"The cost of digging the canal is huge, and I wonder if the Soviet Union's current fiscal deficit can sustain it until the canal is completed." Karamanlis tactfully asked one of the most crucial questions, and that was money. He believed that the Soviet economy had picked up under Yanayev's leadership, but that did not mean that their country's finances could afford such a deficit.

"Didn't we, the Soviet army, have a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons? In the past, the Soviet Union used nuclear bombs to dig canals, which was economical and affordable, and could also consume part of the nuclear weapons stockpile. That's a win-win Pavlov said jokingly. The thinking of the Slavs is so upright, digging inch by inch with an excavator? It's better to use a nuclear bomb to cut it quickly.

The face of the interpreter next to him suddenly turned pale, and he turned his head to look at President Karamanlis, and tried to think hard about how to explain to the Bulgarian president that such a domineering reply from the Soviet Union would not appear shocking.

In the end, the translator blushed, and then said slowly in the most euphemistic way, "Prime Minister Pavlov said that the Soviet Union generally uses nuclear bombs to dig canals, which is more time-saving and labor-saving......"

Hearing that the Soviets liked to dig canals with nuclear weapons, Karamanlis was immediately uneasy, and he shifted his position to try to make himself more stable, imagining the mushroom cloud rising over the land of Greece. Those who did not know it thought that World War III had broken out first in Greece.

"If I really use nuclear weapons to dig a canal, I think I will take a heart-saving pill to suppress the shock...... Something bad about my heart. Prime Minister Pavlov. Karamanlis said as he touched his chest, apparently frightened by Pavlov's joke.

"Haha, digging a canal with a nuclear bomb is just a joke, President Karamanlis. In fact, we only need a guarantee from the Greek government to announce in a high-profile manner that Greece and the Soviet Union are ready to carry out the canal project. I wonder if the Greek government can do it with such a simple gesture? ”

"Is it because of the recent relations between Turkey? I have heard that the conflict between your country and Turkey is very hot. Karamanlis could see at a glance what Pavlov was thinking, and he also sniffed the smell of conspiracy in the tone of the Soviet prime minister.

"Yes, it is said that the three countries will unite the three countries to dig the canal, but this is originally an action to retaliate against Turkey." Pavlov generously admitted this, he had no intention of hiding his true thoughts in front of Karamanlis, and did not want the other party to remain suspicious and distrustful of the purpose of his trip.

For the Soviet Union, the distrust of the allies was a very bad thing, which meant that many projects would not be able to move forward because of the lack of a chain of trust.

"Okay, I'll grant your request." Greek President Karamanlis said, "We have always had a long-standing grievance with Turkey because of the contradictions of the territorial dispute, and if the Cyprus issue is not resolved, then there will be nothing that can be improved in our relations with Turkey. ”

The enemy of the enemy is the friend, and Greek President Karamanlis did not hesitate to side with the Soviet Union for his own interests, and Turkey, which seemed to have a direct conflict of interests, was more worthy of being dealt with by Greece than the Soviet Union, which was not treated much because of the ideological-morphological conflict.

"Then it's a pleasure to work together, President Karamanlis." Pavlov smiled and shook hands with the Greek president, who had successfully established two enemies for Turkey, Bulgaria, which had a request from the Soviet Union, and Greece, with which Turkey already had a disputed relationship.

"Happy cooperation, Prime Minister Pavlov." Karamanlis also jokingly said to Pavlov, "Don't come here with nuclear weapons next time the canal is dug, and those who don't know it think that we are going to have a tough battle because of the ownership of the canal." ”

"Haha, President Karamanlis, don't think of us as the evil empire of American propaganda. The Soviet Union was not the United States, and we would never use force to solve the problems we could solve at the negotiating table, because the Americans were the careerists who wanted to become the world's boss. The Soviet Union now only wants to seek peace and development, and does not want to come into conflict with other countries. However......" Pavlov's tone became serious, "there are always some countries who think that the Soviet Union does not start a war is a sign of cowardice, but which countries can fight the Great Patriotic War that the Soviet Union has experienced at the beginning?" ”

In World War II, the death toll of the Soviet Red Army was more than 9 million, which is already equivalent to the national number of a small country, and such a tragic battle established the world status of the Soviet Union, as well as the proud and remarkable glory of the Red Empire.

Turkey's provocation was as ridiculous as an ant trying to kill a giant elephant, and he didn't know that he was facing a behemoth that could be torn to pieces with a slight lift of his feet. And the ant is still triumphantly mocking the cowardice of the giant elephant, but unfortunately he does not know that the Soviet Union does not need to look at the face of Turkey, and does not need to look at the face of any country. ”

"Because we are the ones who make the rules of the world, we don't need others to dictate to us."

Pavlov uttered the most arrogant declaration in the calmest tone, and the figurative metaphor was like a resounding slap in the face of Turkey. In front of Karamanlis, whose face had turned pale, Pavlov finished his last sentence in a soft voice.

"There is no hope for Turkey, the USSR will not be afraid of any country, not before, not now, and the same will not be in the future."

On this day, Karamanlis finally felt the fear of the Soviet bear. (To be continued.) )