Greek Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, who was Foreign Minister before being bumped in favor of PASOK Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos in a Cabinet shakeup by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the New Democracy Conservative leader, is going to Washington ahead of the Premier’s scheduled Aug. 8 meet with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Avramopoulos, responding to the invitation of his American counterpart Chuck Hagel, will visit the U.S.A. to talk about mutual defense industries for Greece and America.
Avramopoulos and Hagel will discuss on a series of topics concerning the bilateral relations on issues of military cooperation and security, the situation in Eastern Mediterranean and broadly in the Middle East.
They will also discuss ways to further strengthen the Greek armed Forces, with particular emphasis on issues relating to the strengthening of the Greek defense industry which is going to have extensive cuts during Greece’s economic crisis.
Finally, Avramopoulos is expected to inform Hagel about the decision of the Cypriot government to move to the process of integration of Cyprus to the Partnership for Peace (PfP) which hasn’t been solved for 39 years. Avramopoulos will have the opportunity to meet with members of the House and Senate.
On July 31, he will visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Museum and the Hellenic Army General Staff will take place.
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