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The Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, is making an official visit to our country.
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 a.m. on Monday, Pompeo will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, at the governor’s office, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia – Thrace), Theodoros Karaoglou, and the US Ambassador to Greece , Jeffrey Payat.
Discussions are expected to focus on issues of bilateral, regional and international interest, with an emphasis on the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, defense and energy cooperation and, of course, developments in the broader Mediterranean region. Oriental.
Then, according to information from grtimes.gr, the US Chancellor will visit the Hellenic Association of Industries, where he will co-sign a bilateral cooperation agreement in the scientific and technological field with the Minister of Development and Investments, Adonis Georgiadis.
Beside, It is expected to have contacts with representatives of the business world who are mainly dedicated to the field of infrastructure and energy.
The third and last, according to the same information, visit to Mr. Pompeo’s program is at the Jewish Museum in Thessaloniki, late in the afternoon. There he 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 west Thessaloniki, however the design was changed for security reasons.
Pompeo will not eventually visit Pfizer’s digital innovation center in Thessaloniki, as originally planned, but will have a private lunch and then depart early by plane for the next stop on his visit. Crete.
Post on Twitter
The US Secretary of State, on his way to Thessaloniki, shared photos on his Twitter account.
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 intersection with Souri Street to its intersection 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 intersection with Stefanou Dragoumi Street to its intersection with Proxenon Street, Proxenon (a both sides), from its intersection with Kassandrou Street to its intersection with Agiou Dimitriou Street. Venizelou (on both sides), from its intersection with Nikis Avenue to its intersection with Ermou Street. Ionos Dragoumi (on both sides), from its junction with Agiou Dimitriou Street to its junction with Nikis Avenue. Ermou (on both sides), from his contribution with El. Venizelou to his intersection with Ionos Dragoumi street.
The Traffic Police requests the understanding and cooperation of citizens.
What the State Department says
According to a State Department official, the main goal of Pompeo’s visit is to deepen bilateral relations, with an emphasis on 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:
Strengthening America’s diplomatic footprint in the eastern Mediterranean at a time when there is a widespread feeling that the superpower has withdrawn to some degree.
– Sending an indirect message to Ankara, as 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 is also 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 US advantages is the interest shown by US investors in the 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.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is remembered to have said at 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 will promote actions to “reduce the military footprint” in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The US ambassador, Jeffrey Payat, has 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.
Δeither all the latest news from Greece and the world, as it happens, on Newsbomb.gr
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