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In fact, this is the second official visit of the US Secretary of State to Greece in a year.
Only this time there is an … originality: Mr. Pompeo will not visit Athens.
5 p.m. in Thessaloniki
At 10:00 am on Monday, Mr. Pompeo will have a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendia, at Headquarters, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia – Thrace), Thodorou Karaoglou and the United States ambassador to Greece, Jeffrey Payat.
the discussions They are expected to focus on issues of bilateral, regional and international concern with an emphasis on the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, defense and energy cooperation and, of course, developments in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
Then, according to information from grtimes.gr, the US Foreign Minister will visit the Hellenic Industries Association, where he will co-sign a bilateral cooperation agreement in the scientific and technological field with the Minister of Development and Investments. Adoni Georgiadi.
At the same time, it is expected to have contacts with representatives of the business world who are mainly active in the field of infrastructure and energy.
The third and last, according to the same information, visit to Mr. Pompeo’s program is in Jewish museum Thessaloniki, late at noon. There she will meet with the administration of the Holocaust Museum Foundation, in which American diplomacy has expressed interest in the past.
The meeting, which took place with a limited number of people, is expected to be attended by the Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas and members of the city’s Jewish community.
According to the information, a visit to the site where the museum is planned to be erected was originally planned in western Thessaloniki, however the design was changed to for security reasons.
Pompeo will not ultimately visit, as it turns out, its digital innovation hub Pfizer in Thessaloniki as originally planned, but you will have a private lunch and then in the early afternoon you will depart by plane for the next stop of your visit, Crete.
Post on Twitter
The US Secretary of State, when leaving for Thessaloniki, shared Photos on your account at Twitter.
In his post he wrote:
“First stop: Thessaloniki, Greece” and stressed that the purpose of his visit is to strengthen bilateral relations.
The center is closed for parking.
The center of Thessaloniki is a no-go zone for parking and parking from Sunday afternoon to Monday evening.
More specifically, the Thessaloniki Traffic Department announces that the stopping and parking of vehicles will not be allowed from 6:00 p.m. on Sunday (09-27-2020) until 10:00 p.m. on Monday (09-28-2020) on the following road sections:
- Agiou Dimitriou (on both sides), from its junction with Souri Street to its junction with Stefanou Dragoumi Street.
- Stefanou Dragoumi (on both sides), from its intersection with Agiou Dimitriou Street to its intersection with Kassandrou Street.
- Kassandrou (on both sides), from its junction with Stefanou Dragoumi Street to its junction with Proxenon Street.
- Consul (on both sides), from its junction with Kassandrou Street to its junction with Agiou Dimitriou Street.
- The. Venizelou (on both sides), from its intersection with Nikis Avenue to its intersection with Ermou Street.
- Ionos Dragoumi (on both sides), from its intersection with Agiou Dimitriou Street to its intersection with Nikis Avenue.
- Ermou (on both sides), from his junction with El. Venizelou to his junction with Ionos Dragoumi street.
The Traffic Police requests the understanding and cooperation of citizens.
What the State Department says
According to his officer State DepartmentThe main objective of Pompeo’s visit is to deepen bilateral relations, with emphasis on the fields of energy and security.
“This will be Minister Pompeo’s second trip to Greece. Just a year ago we went to Athens for the Strategic Dialogue.
I think the fact that we are returning will underscore how strong the ties between the United States and Greece have become in recent years.
“Relations between the United States and Greece are truly at a historically high level and this upcoming visit will underscore the successes in bilateral relations,” the US official said.
He added that:
“The United States welcomes the announcement of the resumption of exploratory contacts between Greece and Turkey. I am sure this issue will be discussed during the visit.”
The objectives
In addition to the official statements, the purpose of Pompeo’s visit is:
– To strengthen the American diplomatic footprint in the eastern Mediterranean at a time when the feeling that the superpower has withdrawn to some extent is widespread.
– To be sent indirectly message to AnkaraSince Mr. Pompeo “breaks” the tradition that US officials when visiting Greece visit Turkey, and vice versa. It is recalled that on September 12, during his visit to Cyprus, Mr. Pompeo met with Nikos Anastasiadis but not with Mr. Akindzi.
– Promote the expansion of the defense agreement between Greece and the United States.
The armament
Pompeo’s goal remains to declare the American “present” for the gigantic weapons program announced by Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The F-16 modernization program is carried out by Lockheed Martin, while the 4 helicopters to be acquired by the Navy are American.
The United States is still interested in the plans for the four new frigates, as well as upgrading the existing MEKO frigates.
Among the advantages of the US is the interest shown by US investors in Elefsina Shipyards who could participate in the project.
On September 21, a US delegation led by Adam Boiler, Undersecretary of Energy Matthew Zeiss, President of the US Export-Import and Export-Import Bank of Athens, Jeffrey Payat.
It is recalled that the Kyriakos Mitsotakis He had told TIF:
“We are activating our defense industry. Already in the Elefsina shipyards, US funds are being invested in its modernization. A strategic investor will soon enter the Scaramanga shipyards while maintaining their jobs. The tender process has been completed, the privatization of ELVO will be completed in the immediate future and the ODA will be reorganized to transform it into an aircraft maintenance center for the wider area. “
The footprint
Finally, there should be no doubt that Mike pompeo It will promote measures to “reduce the military footprint” in the eastern Mediterranean.
The American Ambassador Jeffrey Payat he denied that the US proposal refers to the withdrawal of “first strike” weapons.
However, it must be taken for granted that the United States wants a smaller presence in the Greek and Turkish Navy and Air Force.
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