The United States and Greece, after years of disputes and tough negotiations, signed a new agreement Wednesday to keep American military bases in the east Mediterranean country, a Greek government spokesman said.
The accord replaces a previous five-year pact which expired in December 1988. The Americans had until the end of this year to pack up and go home unless a new agreement was signed.U.S. Ambassador Alan Flanigan and Greek Ambassador Christos Zaharakis signed the new agreement Wednesday morning, Greek government spokesman Byron Polydoras told reporters.
The spokesman declined to give details on the new pact but earlier in the week said it would run for eight years.
The accord must be approved by an absolute majority in the 300-seat Greek parliament, where the ruling conservative New Democracy party controls 151 seats.
The U.S. Senate must be informed about the new Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement, but its approval is not required. The Senate has the power to reject only a full treaty, not an executive agreement.