Greece top US ally in area: Rice
Greece is the closest ally that the US has in the Balkans, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday after a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis in Washington. «We do not have better friends than those in Greece with whom to meet challenges (in the Balkans) and other challenges,» said Rice. Her comment was in particular reference to Greece’s role in trying to help negotiate the future of the UN-run province of Kosovo, ahead of talks this summer designed to assess whether it should become independent or remain part of Serbia-Montenegro. «There is going to be a broad consultation on where we go with Kosovo. Obviously, Greece is in the neighborhood,» said Rice. «We believe this is a region that is ripe for cooperation between Greece and the United States as well as the other members of NATO,» she added. The secretary of state also indicated that Greece would be an important ally for the US in defining the future of the Middle East. «Greece has a vital role to play in helping the Palestinian people develop institutions which they can build on,» she said.
