The Greek defense minister Evangelos Meymarakis is on a six day visit in Washington. Some of the most important issues, which he will discuss with the US secretary of defense Robert Gates, are a stronger presence in Afghanistan and weapon contracts, which are valued for ?5.5 billion.

Today the US under secretary of defense Michèle Flournoy will speak to Mr. Meymarakis on an official lunch regarding specific numbers and delivery dates. One of the issues, which will be stressed on is the Greek arming program valued for ?11-?15 billion, for which two US companies are competing. The negotiations will touch upon the solution of secondary issues, which are also very important – programs of significant economic value, like the F-16 airplane support with spare parts for ?250 million for the next five years.

The US is very interested in the land, naval, and air forces programs, which are also of interest to some European companies. “The Americans do not get out of any program until there is a signed contract,” says “Ta Nea” newspaper, a competent source on the defense issues. The paper gives an example with the tank and torpedo ammunitions cases, which at the beginning were not of interest for the Americans but now they have changed their position.

Most likely there will be a development on the issues about the delivery delay of the F-16 airplanes self-defense systems, about the latest bureaucratic issues regarding the purchase of the Apache helicopters, and about the use of the “antiterrorist” navy center in Souda bay by the Americans.

According to experts, the US military-men will be firm on their position regarding an increased Greek presence in Afghanistan with e military personnel, helicopters and “cash.” Greece had given ?500 000, because it refused to send Apache helicopters but after the contract for delivering 12 helicopters was signed before Mr. Meymarakis left for the US, the Americans would not accept an excuse that Greece does not have enough lay-out.

During his visit in the US, Mr. Meymarakis attended the big parade of the Greek Organizations from the Diaspora in New York for the national holiday, March 25^th. The Minister of Defense met with the American Archbishop Dimitri, whom he called “the symbol of national unification of the peaceful Hellenism.”