America will not pressure Greece to solve the Macedonia argument faster. This was Barack Obama’s statement during his 40 minute meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in Strasburg. This was the first meeting of the two politicians, who were both in the French city for the NATO high level meeting. A little bit before his meeting with Karamanlis, Barack Obama talked to the Turkish Prime Minister Taip Erdogan and few hours later, his official visit to Ankara and Istanbul will start.

The Greek media did not miss to mention that in his greeting speech for welcoming Croatia and Albania into NATO, the US president used the name Macedonia and not FYRM in order to note that his hopes Skopje will soon become a member of the alliance. The US recognizes the constitution name of the Macedonian Republic. During his meeting with Karamanlis, Obama promised to discuss the Turkish presence in the Aegean when he is in Ankara but later on in Prague, he called for accepting Turkey into the EU. During a press conference in Strasburg, Kostas Karamanlis said that he agrees that Turkey should be accepted into the EU, only if it fulfills all the requirements.

Athens is glad that after all Barack Obama will meet the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartolomei but the meeting will not take place in the Patriarchy but in the hotel where the US president will stay. On the morning of April 7^th, Obama will visit the Saint Sophia church.

Regarding Afghanistan, Greece committed to send 30 to 40 soldiers, who will assume the responsibility of guarding the Kabul airport until 2010. Also, in accordance with the military schedule of the country, Athens is ready to participate in the training of the police in Afghanistan.

On the press conference, Kostas Karamanlis confirmed that he has received an invitation from Barack Obama to visit the White House during this fall and that he has also invited the US president to visit to Greece.