Former Massachusetts governor and US Democratic party presidential nominee in 1988, Michael Dukakis, assessed that there were large prospects in Greek-US relations, addressing an open discussion on Greek-US relations late Monday organised by the American College of Thessaloniki (ACT).

Dukakis spoke of Greece's "dynamic" development in the Balkans and more broadly in the European Union, stressing the beneficial impact this had on Greek-US relations.

He expressed hope that after the next elections in America, the new US administration and Congress would contribute even more to strengthening bilateral relations with Greece.

Dukakis, the longest-serving governor in Massachusetts' history, also stressed the importance of building alliances both on the domestic and the international politicial scene and, referring to current US president George W. Bush, said that he has not understood the importance of this factor, unlike his father, former US president George Bush, resulting in his taking actions such as the war on Iraq, which Dukakis described as a "huge mistake".

"If you are to do something, if you are to make a difference, you must build alliances based on mutual respect," Dukakis said, noting that the US usually acted unilaterally, as in the case of Vietnam and Nicaragua, and failed.

Dukakis, who is on a visit to Thessaloniki, is scheduled to meet with representatives of Greek-American organisations and the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki. He will further deliver a lecture to ACT students.

Source: Athens News Agency

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